Omitama:Omitama City "Gino" Atthaya Thitikul is set to return to action on the LPGA Tour after a two-event break, gearing up for the TOTO Japan Classic, the final event of the Asian Swing, scheduled to take place this weekend in Japan. Thitikul will be joined by fellow Thai golfers "May" Ariya Jutanugarn, "Myo" Pajaree Anannarukan, "Praw" Chanettee Wannasen, "Piano" Apichaya Yubol, and "Hut" Suvichaya Winichaitham. They will compete against top female golfers from around the world, as well as players from the JLPGA Tour of Japan.
According to Thai News Agency, the TOTO Japan Classic, a premier professional women's golf tournament, boasts a total prize fund of US$2.10 million (approximately 70.8 million baht). The event is scheduled from November 5-8, 2026, and will be held at the Taiheiyo Club Minori Course in Omitama City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As the final event of the Asian Swing season, it is co-organized with the JLPGA Tour Japan and will feature 78 leading golfers competing in a 72-hole, four-round stroke play format with no cut. This year, Nasa Hataoka, a renowned Japanese golfer, will return to defend her title.
The participating Thai golfers, including Atthaya, Ariya, Pajaree, Chanettee, Apichaya, and Suvichaya, are aiming for strong performances as the season draws to a close. Atthaya Thitikul, currently ranked as the world number two and a winner of 11 LPGA Tour titles, is competing in the TOTO Japan Classic for the second time. She previously secured a 10th place finish in 2022. This year, she has delivered impressive performances, finishing in the top 10 in 11 out of 18 tournaments and winning four titles.
Ariya Jutanugarn, a former world number one and 12-time LPGA Tour champion, will be competing in the tournament for the eighth time, with past top 10 finishes in 2015, 2016, and 2024. Pajaree Anannarukan, a two-time LPGA Tour champion, is participating for the fifth time, while Chanettee Wannasen, a one-time champion, enters her fourth appearance. Apichaya Yubol will compete for the fourth time as well, and rookie Suvichaya Winichaitham is set for her first appearance.
The tournament will also feature notable international golfers, including world number four Miyu Yamashita from Japan, who recently won the Maybank Championship in Malaysia. Other competitors include Japanese golfers Ayaka Furue and Hinako Shibuno, South Korean golfers Hyo-joo Kim, In-jee Chun, Jin-young Ko, and G.A. Shin, as well as Australian golfers Hannah Green and Minjee Lee.