Minjee Lee Out: Misses 2026 CME Group Tour Championship

Minjee Lee is packing her clubs – much earlier than expected, as her 2026 LPGA season has come to an end. This means she will miss the CME Group Tour Championship for the first time since 2014, having to watch the golf elite compete for the title in Naples, Florida. Her withdrawal from this week's ANNIKA tournament made qualification for next week's grand finale impossible. After a disappointing performance, most recently finishing last at the Japan Classic, Lee has decided to take a break and work on her persistent swing issues.

This is a tough blow for the three-time Major winner. Since October 2025, Lee has dropped from third to 24th in the world rankings – her lowest position in over a decade. Although the 30-year-old is an 11-time LPGA Tour winner, her 2026 campaign has been far from smooth. A scoring average of 74.78 over her last six events speaks volumes; significant weaknesses were evident, especially in driving accuracy and greens in regulation (GIR).

The Race for the Final Spots

While Lee takes an involuntary break, the race for the remaining spots in the season finale is heating up. Only the top 60 in the Race to CME Globe qualify, and Lee is currently in 79th place. Hannah Green, 11th in the rankings, is also not competing at the ANNIKA. However, Cassie Porter (47th), Grace Kim (51st), Karis Davidson (54th), and Robyn Choi (61st) are fiercely battling for a spot in the finale. Choi, in particular, needs a strong performance this week and likely a top-30 finish to make the cut.

Korda's Dominance Continues

Meanwhile, at the top of the leaderboard, things are going well for current world No. 1 Nelly Korda. She has already secured the LPGA Player of the Year award and is chasing further records at the ANNIKA. Lee's involuntary break ends an impressive streak at the season's close but also gives her the chance to address her swing issues in the offseason to come back strong in 2027.