The global enterprise that is the LPGA Tour -- events contested in 13 countries with golfers from 10 countries winning titles in 2018 -- returns to its United States base to end the season this week at what have become familiar confines.
The Gold Course at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, is home for the CME Group Tour Championship for the sixth consecutive year. In keeping with the LPGA's international flavor, players from five countries have won at Tiburon since the tournament moved there in 2013: Shanshan Feng of China, Lydia Ko of New Zealand, Cristie Kerr of the United States, Charley Hull of England and Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, the defending champion.
As the LPGA's 2018 season comes to a conclusion, here are five things to consider:
1. Can Jutanugarn complete an unprecedented clean sweep?
At one stage during the afternoon of June 3, Ariya Jutanugarn was reeling in the final round of the U.S. Women's Open at Shoal Creek outside Birmingham, Alabama. Jutanugarn, the 22-year-old Thai star, had blown a seven-stroke lead with nine holes to play. It looked as if she was going to fail in a way that would leave a lot of scar tissue.
But Jutanugarn steadied herself, pulled off some clutch recovery shots and made it into a playoff against Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea. On the fourth playoff hole, after a two-hole aggregate format turned into sudden death, Jutanugarn won a major championship that had appeared lost.
Jutanugarn hasn't missed a beat since that topsy-turvy Sunday, and she arrives at the season-ending tournament looking to wrap up quite a year.
If the drama around season accolades that is usually present at the CME is largely absent this time, blame Jutanugarn. She already has secured most 2018 honors, including Rolex Player of the Year, Rolex Annika Major Award, money title, and a new LEADERS Top 10 Competition. She is in great position to win the Vare Trophy for lowest-scoring average and the Race to the CME Globe. Sweeping the biggest honors would allow Jutanugarn to make LPGA history, becoming the first player to take them all.
2. Will parity be on display, continuing a dominant theme of the season?
With 22 different winners in 2017, it would have seemed difficult for LPGA success to be spread around even more in 2018, but that is exactly what has happened.
Twenty-five golfers have won titles this year, with only four multiple champions: Ariya Jutanugarn and Sung Hyun Park (three victories apiece) and Brooke Henderson and Nasa Hataoka (two wins apiece).
3. Can Lexi Thompson end a difficult season on a positive note?
That Lexi Thompson is in the CME field seems like it could be an encouraging sign for the 23-year-old American, who has played only twice since missing the cut at the Evian Championship in mid-September. That disappointing major result came after Thompson didn't play in the Ricoh Women's British Open, noting that challenges on and off the course were causing her "to take some time to work on myself." This fall, Thompson opened up on Instagram that she struggles with her self-image and body confidence.
According to a report in Golfweek, Thompson, who won the 2017 Race to the CME Globe, will tee off at Tiburon without caddie Kevin McAlpine, who had worked for her since early last season. If Thompson doesn't win the tournament, it will end a streak of winning at least once for five straight seasons.
4. Can Americans keep up their good play?
In 2016, only two American golfers won on the LPGA Tour (Brittany Lincicome and Lexi Thompson), the fewest in tour history. The number seemed not only to signal further proof of the LPGA's international nature but perhaps of something amiss in the American way of producing elite women golfers.
It could be a blip, but 2018 has seen a U.S. resurgence. Going into the final event of the season, eight Americans have won: Lincicome, Jessica Korda, Michelle Wie, Annie Park, Marina Alex, Angela Stanford, Danielle Kang and Nelly Korda. Only South Korea, with nine victories, has been more successful.
5. Will one of the LPGA's emerging stars shine?
If you want a peek at the LPGA's future, look no further than the three events leading into the CME Group Tour Championship and the young players who won them.
Nelly Korda won for the first time in her LPGA career at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship. Nasa Hataoka was victorious at the Japan Classic for her second victory of the season. And Gaby Lopez broke through for her first career win at last week's Blue Bay LPGA, joining retired legend Lorena Ochoa as the only golfers from Mexico to win on the LPGA Tour.
