Before the LPGA’s biggest names gear up for next week’s Chevron Championship, many are turning to this week's 2025 JM Eagle LA Championship for a chance to sharpen their skills — and pad their bank accounts.
A total of $3.75 million is on the line in Southern California, where 144 of the world's top golfers will take aim at a piece of one of the largest non-major purses on the LPGA Tour.
The stars will be out in full force when the LA Championship's first round begins on Thursday, including 16 of the world's Top 25 golfers, led by No. 1 Nelly Korda in her first return to El Caballero since 2023.
After sitting out several late-season 2024 tournaments with a neck injury, Korda has maintained her fitness through 2025, taking a planned seven-week break before rejoining the Tour last month.
"I kind of have the first part of [the] year until Chevron kind of set," Korda told reporters about her 2025 schedule in January. "After that, it'll be just how my body is feeling."
Defending champ Hannah Green uses third title hunt to give back
While Korda is sure to draw crowds, all eyes will be on Australia’s Hannah Green as the world No. 5 golfer attempts to secure a third straight LA Championship title.
Green is already off to a strong start this year, earning two top 10 finishes in her first four 2025 tournaments.
The reigning champion is also giving back, pledging $500 for every birdie and $1,000 for each eagle she makes this week to the Los Angeles Fireman's Relief Association in the wake of January's destructive wildfires.
"California has been such a special place to my heart, so I want to give back in any way possible," the 28-year-old explained.
How to watch the LPGA Tour at the 2025 LA Championship
The first round of the 2025 JM Eagle LA Championship tees off on Thursday morning.
Coverage of each of the tournament's four rounds will air daily at 6 PM ET on The Golf Channel.
After a planned seven-week break from the LPGA Tour, world No. 1 golfer Nelly Korda is back in action, with the US star beginning her 2024 title defense at the 2025 Ford Championship on Thursday afternoon.
While last year’s inaugural event saw Korda in the midst of a historic five-tournament winning streak, the 26-year-old has been more strategic with her participation this year, sitting out the tour’s recent Asia swing after kicking off her 2025 campaign with two Top 10 finishes.
"I mean, it’s always nice to take time off where you’re not injured and you're kind of trying to hopefully become better and catch up on maybe some lost time," she told Golfweek on Wednesday.
Incorporating rest is a strategy world No. 3 Lydia Ko is also employing this year, as the New Zealander travels to the Phoenix, Arizona, event after a three-week break of her own. Ko is also packing winning momentum in her golf bag this weekend, having snagged her 23rd career title at the 2025 HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore on March 2nd.
Joining Korda and Ko on this weekend's Ford Championship links are all 10 of the LPGA's top-ranked golfers, who will be competing together for the first time this year at the event.
That means Australia's world No. 5 Hannah Green, the US star No. 6 Lilia Vu, and South Korea standout No. 8 Jin Young Ko will all be competing for a chunk of the $2.25 million purse.
Top LPGA golfers take aim at low-scoring history
With Phoenix's warm climate known for producing low golf scores, this weekend's at the 2025 Ford Championship athletes will also take a swing at history by chasing the near-impossible single-round score of 59.
"That's kind of like the trend of golf here in Arizona," said Korda about the area's ideal setting for the sport. "I mean, the weather is usually perfect. The grass is usually perfect as well. So that all sets up for low scoring ability, and then it's hot, so it flies really far. So the par 5s are pretty reachable."
Korda once came close to the elusive score during her 2021 Olympic gold medal-winning run in Tokyo, though a few extra late swings saw her finish the round at 62.
"I came pretty close at the Olympics, then I doubled my last one," she explained. "It was like starting to creep into my head and I was like, yeah, I don't even think about it, no."
If any of this weekend's LPGA stars do snag a sub-60 round, they'll become just the second LPGA player to ever do so, joining former pro Annika Sörenstam, whose historic 59 came in Phoenix in 2001.
How to watch Nelly Korda at the 2025 Ford Championship
Running through Sunday's fourth and final round, the 2025 Ford Championship tees off on Thursday, with streaming coverage beginning at 6 PM ET and broadcast coverage airing at 7 PM ET.
All rounds of the tournament will air on the Golf Channel.
Hannah Green preserved her lead at the Palos Verdes Championship, holding on to a one-shot advantage heading into the tournament’s final round.
The Australian entered Saturday with a three-stroke lead before faltering and firing bogeys on the first two holes. Green, however, bounced back to finish 1-over 72 to remain atop the leaderboard.
Your solo leader, @hannahgreengolf! 🔥
— LPGA (@LPGA) May 1, 2022
Check out her highlights from Round 3 of the @PV_Champ! ⬇️ ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/aLwyZ8oe4E
“I got off to a horrendous start, I guess you could say,” Green said. “Just short-sided myself too many times today, so I was actually pretty happy with the 1-over score.”
Lydia Ko of New Zealand sits just behind Green on the Palos Verdes leaderboard, shooting a 70 to take second place.
The final round of the Palos Verdes Championship kicks off at 6 pm ET on the Golf Channel.
Hannah Green surged to the top of the leaderboard at the Palos Verdes Championship, finishing with a second-round 5-under 66 Friday.
The Australian holds a three-stroke lead heading into the third round at Palos Verdes Estates.
Another excellent shot out of the bunker leading to a birdie! ✌️@hannahgreengolf has the solo lead at -9 at the @PV_Champ! pic.twitter.com/vVIdxShkxX
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 30, 2022
“Hopefully, I can keep as many bogeys off the scorecard and keep making birdies,” Green said. “I think there will be some low scores.”
Carding birdies on 14 and 16, Green finished at 9-under 133, rebounding from dropped strokes on the par-4 12th hole and par-3 13th.
Megan Khang, Minjee Lee, Jin Young Ko and Lydia Ko all sit in second, three strokes behind Green at 6-under.
The Palos Verdes Championship continues on Saturday, with the tournament’s third round airing on the Golf Channel at 6 pm ET.