Lee Mi-hyang, Shin Ji-eun eye second wins of season at LPGA Arkansas Championship

Lee Mi-hyang and Shin Ji-eun will both chase their second wins of the season at the LPGA Tour's Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, which carries a $3 million purse.

The tournament runs for three days starting Friday at Pinnacle Country Club (par 71) in Rogers, Arkansas. Now in its 20th year since launching in 2007, the event is contested over 54 holes of stroke play across three rounds.

Korean players have combined for six LPGA Tour victories this season — Kim Hyo-joo and Ryu Hae-ran with two each, and Lee and Shin with one apiece. With Kim and Ryu both sitting out this week, attention turns to the two 33-year-olds.

Lee claimed her third career title at the Blue Bay LPGA in March, ending an eight-year, eight-month drought. Shin ended a drought of her own in July, winning the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open for her second career title — her first in 10 years and two months.

Neither player has found consistent form since her win, however. Lee has failed to crack the top 10 since the Blue Bay LPGA and missed the cut at last month's FM Championship. Shin has similarly struggled, finishing tied for 47th at the AIG Women's Open and 67th at the CPKC Women's Open before also missing the cut at the FM Championship.

Several top-ranked players will be absent this week, including world No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States and No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand. Among the top 10 who are competing are Miyu Yamashita of Japan and England's Lottie Woad and Charley Hull.

The Arkansas Championship has a storied history with Korean players — seven have won the title, most recently Ryu Hae-ran in 2023, making it something of a promised land for Korean golf. Last year the tournament was cut to 18 holes due to severe weather and no champion was crowned. Lee So-mi, who finished tied for third that year, will be chasing her second career LPGA Tour title at this week's event.