The JM Eagle LA Championship will return to Los Angeles from April 17 to 20, with more than 20 Korean and Korean American LPGA players set to compete at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana.
This year’s tournament offers a total purse of $3.75 million, making it the second-largest prize pool on the LPGA Tour after the five major championships and the CME Group Tour Championship.
Korean players headline LA tournament
Top Korean golfers including Kim Hyo-Joo, Ko Jin-Young, Kim Sei-Young, and Choi Hye-Jin will participate in the four-day event. Andrea Lee, a Los Angeles native and former World No. 1 amateur in 2019, is also among the featured players and draws attention from local Korean golf fans.
During a press conference held on April 10 at Koreatown Plaza, Andrea Lee, championship media director Jeremy Friedman, and Dave Tucker, vice president of sales, shared updates on the event’s preparations.
Friedman emphasized that the El Caballero course is in top condition and ready to host the tournament. While the event has traditionally been held at Wilshire Country Club, renovations have prompted a change in venue for 2025.
Community-focused and player-supported
Friedman noted that all 144 LPGA players will be provided free luxury hotel accommodations. He also praised Walter and Shirley Wang, the tournament’s hosts and leaders of JM Eagle, for their continued support of women’s sports and their initiative to raise the prize pool starting in 2023.
In addition to golf, the JM Eagle LA Championship aims to support the local community. First responders and those affected by recent wildfires in LA—such as residents in Palisades and the Eaton fire area—will receive free admission. The Wang family has already donated $1.5 million toward relief efforts, with another $5 million expected.
“This tournament is about more than golf,” said Friedman. “We hope it becomes a source of healing and hope for the community.”
Andrea Lee returns home
Andrea Lee expressed pride in competing in her hometown, saying, “It’s an honor to contribute to the community through this championship.” Known for her precise driving and strong bunker play, Lee currently ranks first in driver accuracy and second in sand saves on the LPGA Tour.
She shared her impressions of the course, noting that El Caballero’s fast greens could work in her favor. “I prefer fast greens, so I think it’ll help,” she told The Korea Daily.
Lee added that rhythm, tempo, and confidence are keys to her game. “People often comment on the timing of my driver swing, and that rhythm helps with accuracy,” she said. “I’ve also focused heavily on short game training to improve my putting.”
Hopes for Park Se-Ri Championship return
Lee also expressed regret over the cancellation of the Park Se-Ri Championship this year. “As a Korean player, I was really looking forward to playing in a tournament honoring a legend like Park Se-Ri,” she said. “I have many memories at Palos Verdes Golf Club, and I hope to return next year if the event resumes.”
▶ Ticket reservations: www.jmeaglechampionship.com
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
