Blue Bay LPGA: Field, tee times, and betting odds as the LPGA Tour returns to Hainan Island for the first time since 2018

LPGA Tour Blue Bay LPGA

The LPGA Tour Asian Swing continues in China with the Blue Bay LPGA returning to the schedule after a five-year absence

When another record-breaking schedule for the LPGA Tour was announced for 2024, it saw the inclusion of the Blue Bay LPGA for the fourth time in six years. However, this is the first year since 2018 that this tournament is going ahead following the COVID-19 outbreak.

The LPGA Tour made its return to China – for the first time since 2019 – late last season for the 2023 Buick LPGA Shanghai. The long-awaited return to the Blue Bay LPGA sees a star-studded field line-up in the hope of taking home the spoils.

Since the Blue Bay LPGA was introduced on the LPGA Tour in 2014, the event has only been played five times. Every year has thrown up a new winner – could this be the first year that someone wins the Blue Bay LPGA for the second time in their career?

Who is playing in the Blue Bay LPGA?

There are three of the five past champions of this event in the field this week. Gaby Lopez enters the field as the most recent winner of this tournament in 2018, Minjee Lee emerged victorious in 2016 and she’s teeing it up this week, and 2017 champion Sei-Young Kim is also lining up in the Blue Bay LPGA. There is a strong possibility that one of these three can make a return to the winner’s enclosure at a happy hunting ground.

However, it’s not going to be a walk in the park for anyone playing this week. There are six players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings top 10 teeing up on Hainan Island. World No.1 Lilia Vu is present this week along with three other golfers in the top 5 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. The only player from the top 5 in the rankings not in the field this week is American Nelly Korda.

The Chinese crowd will be hoping for a home hero to win the Blue Bay LPGA – and they could be in luck! World No.4 Ruoning Yin and World No.10 Xiyu Lin are the highest-ranked Chinese golfers playing this week and they both have a fantastic chance of lifting the trophy on Sunday.

World No.7, Lydia Ko, is the only winner on the LPGA Tour this season making the trip to China to play in the Blue Bay LPGA. This season’s other winners, Nelly Korda, Patty Tavatanakit, and Hannah Green are all taking a week off.

Perhaps the most feared golfer in the field this week is World No.3 Celine Boutier, who was extremely close to winning last week at the HSBC Women’s World Championship. However, Boutier isn’t the only golfer in the field to be worried about. Take a look at the full list of players teeing it up in the HSBC Women’s World Championship and how they qualified here.

What is the format of the Blue Bay LPGA?

It is a standard strokeplay event played over 72 holes with a cut after 36 holes (two rounds) that sees the leading 65 players and ties make the final two rounds. The player who achieves the lowest score over four rounds will win the tournament.

Where is the Blue Bay LPGA being played?

The Blue Bay LPGA is played at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course on Hainan Island in the South China Sea. Since the Blue Bay LPGA was added to the LPGA Tour schedule in 2014, it has been played at the same golf course every year the event has taken place.

The Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course measures 6,675 yards for the Blue Bay LPGA and it’s played as a par 72.

Who will win the Blue Bay LPGA?

The Blue Bay LPGA is going to be fiercely competitive, which has been a theme of every LPGA Tour event so far this season. With the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Puerto Rico Open, Jonsson Workwear Open, LIV Golf Hong Kong, and Aramco Team Series Tampa all being played this week alongside the Blue Bay LPGA there is more than enough golf being played to whet your appetite.

With so many great golfers teeing it up this week in China for the Blue Bay LPGA, picking a winner is once again a very difficult task. Last week’s favorite with the bookmakers, Lydia Ko, is once again favorite this week. The second favorite to lift the trophy this week is China’s Xiyu Lin. It’s hardly surprising that the golfers playing this week from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings top 10 are all extremely prominent in the betting.

Selected odds (correct at 1 pm GMT on Mar 4, 2024)

Lydia Ko 8/1

Xiyu Lin 9/1

Celine Boutier 10/1

Lilia Vu 10/1

Ayaka Furue 12/1

Minjee Lee 12/1

Ruoning Yin 14/1

Jenny Shin 28/1

Gaby Lopez 40/1

How much does the winner of the Blue Bay LPGA get?

In 2018, when the Blue Bay LPGA was last played the purse stood at $2,100,000, which was one of the largest purses outside of the Major Championships. In 2023, the purse still stood at $2,100,000. However, in 2024 the purse for the Blue Bay LPGA has been elevated to $2,200,000. This is one of the events that’s received a purse increase as part of the LPGA Tour’s record-breaking 2024 schedule.

The most recent winner of this event, Gaby Lopez, was awarded $315,000 for her victory. This year’s winner is expected to receive $330,000.

How to watch the Blue Bay LPGA

UK viewers will be unable to watch the action this week

US viewers can catch all the action on Golf Channel

All times EST

Wednesday, March 6: The Golf Channel, 23.00

Thursday, March 7: The Golf Channel, 23.00

Friday, March 8: The Golf Channel, 23.00

Saturday, March 9: The Golf Channel, 23.00

Blue Bay LPGA Tee Times

Tee time information for the Blue Bay LPGA can be viewed here.

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About the author

James Hogg – Golf Equipment Writer

James has a degree in English Language from Newcastle University and an MA in Journalism from Kingston University.

He spent seven years working for American Golf as part of the sales and fitting team alongside his studies and is a specialist in putters, golf balls, and apparel.

James took up golf as a teenager and, thanks largely to his length and consistency off the tee, he plays off a handicap of 4.7 at Cleveland Golf Club.

You can contact James via email for loads more golf equipment insight.