Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course – Hainan Island, Hainan, People’s Republic of China
Thursday–Sunday, March 5–8, 2026
Purse: $2,600,000 | Winner’s Share: $390,000 | Race to the CME Globe: 500 points
108-player field, no cut (full 72 holes)
Venue & Course Overview
Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course (designed by Schmidt-Curley with significant 2020s renovations), a modern resort layout on the northeast coast of Hainan Island.
Par 72 | 6,712 yards | Bermuda fairways/greens | Rating/Slope: ~74.5/135 (from tips)
The course features wide, forgiving fairways framed by manmade dunes and palm trees, multiple reachable par-5s, and large, undulating TifEagle Bermuda greens that can get firm and quick. Water hazards and strategic bunkering come into play on approach shots, especially on the back nine. Wind is the primary defense here — even moderate breezes turn birdie holes into pars and pars into bogeys. Record 72-hole score: −19 (269) by Bailey Tardy in 2024; low-round record: 64.2026 Course Conditions (early-week reports): Firm and fast after a dry start to the dry season. Greens running 11.5–12.5 on the Stimpmeter, receptive but firming further under sun and wind. Rough is penal but playable; expect scoring opportunities on the par-5s (holes 5, 8, 13, 16) and a premium on approach accuracy and lag putting.
Weather Forecast (Hainan Island – March 5–8, 2026)
Tropical March conditions: warm, humid, with a daily chance of brief passing showers or isolated thunderstorms in the afternoons.
- Thursday (Rd 1): High 82–84°F (28–29°C), low ~72°F. Mostly cloudy with 40–50% chance of passing showers. NE/E winds 10–14 mph.
- Friday (Rd 2): High 82–84°F, low ~71°F. Partly cloudy, 35–45% shower chance (highest late afternoon). Winds E/SE 12–15 mph.
- Saturday (Rd 3): High 83–85°F, low ~70°F. Breaks of sun, 30–40% isolated showers. Winds 10–14 mph.
- Sunday (Final Rd): High 82–84°F, low ~71°F. Mostly sunny to partly cloudy, 20–30% shower risk. Winds 10–13 mph.
Heat index near 90–95°F (32–35°C) in the afternoons. Ideal for low scoring early in the week; wind and any rain could firm the course and reward precision by the weekend.
Tournament History
9th playing of the Blue Bay LPGA (debut 2014; annual since 2015 except pandemic gaps). Known as one of the LPGA’s strongest international events in Asia and a birdie-fest when conditions are calm.
Recent Winners & Scores:
- 2025: Rio Takeda (−17, 271) – dominant final-round 64, won by 6 strokes
- 2024: Bailey Tardy (−19, 269) – wire-to-wire victory
- 2018: Gaby López (−8, 280)
- 2017: Shanshan Feng (−9, 279) – home-soil win
- 2016: Minjee Lee (−13, 275)
Low scores dominate (average winning total ~−15 or better in recent editions). Defending champions have strong history here; Asian and power players thrive.
Key Player Matchups & Storylines
Top Contenders
- Rio Takeda (+1400 to +1600) – Defending champion and 2025 winner. Japanese star riding momentum; elite iron play and putting fit this scoring venue perfectly.
- Ayaka Furue (+1000 to +1200) – Consistent ball-striker and recent winner; loves Asian tracks and has multiple top-5s here in past appearances.
- Hye-Jin Choi (+1000) – World-class putter and scrambler; strong recent form post-HSBC.
- A Lim Kim (+1600) – Power player who excels in wind; multiple top-10s in 2026.
- Auston Kim / Ruoning Yin (+1800 range) – Young stars with length off the tee and hot putters.
Other Notables
- Yuka Saso (major winner), Jasmine Suwannapura (recent winner), Lindy Duncan, Esther Henseleit, Chinese contingent (Muni He, local amateurs/sponsors).
- Rising rookies and Top-80 money-list qualifiers fill out a solid but not superstar-heavy field (many elites resting after Singapore or preparing for U.S. swing).
Storylines: Rio Takeda seeking rare back-to-back; strong Asian representation; FedExCME points battle in a wide-open alternate-style event.
Recent Player Forms (Entering the Week)
- Takeda: Dominant 2025 winner here + consistent cuts and top-15s early 2026.
- Furue / Hye-Jin Choi: Multiple top-10s post-HSBC; sharp iron play.
- A Lim Kim / Auston Kim: Hot putters with recent strong finishes.
- Field features several players coming off solid HSBC performances or early-season wins.
Betting Trends
- Low scores win: Winning totals routinely −15 to −19 in good weather.
- Approach & putting rule: Past champs excel in SG: Approach and SG: Putting.
- Favorites perform well but value in mid-tier Asians and course-repeaters.
- Wind management key: Players who scramble and manage par-5s outperform.
- Final-round comebacks common in this birdie-friendly setup.
