The final qualifying round for the 2025 LPGA Women's Golf Tour will be held over five days from December 5th to 9th local time at Crossings C and Falls C at Magnolia Grove GC in Alabama, USA. WOWOW will stream the "LPGA Women's Golf Tour 2024 Final Qualifying" on WOWOW On Demand PPV (Pay-per-view).
In addition to sisters Akie Iwai and Chirei Iwai, who both announced their participation early on, the qualifying tournament will feature Miyu Yamashita, the 2022/2023 domestic tour prize money leader, and Erika Hara, who made it through the second qualifying tournament. Also participating will be Yuri Yoshida, who unfortunately failed to reach a seed this season and will be trying again, as well as Saki Baba and Suzuna Yamaguchi, who played mainly on the US lower-level tour this season. With the qualifying tournament just around the corner, the players shared their enthusiasm.
◇Yamashita Miyu
--The final qualifying round is finally here. How do you feel now?
First of all when I came here, I was impressed by how cold it was, and my impression after playing the course was that the distances were long and there were many holes with very difficult greens, so I realized that persistent golf will be important.
--What was your main reason for wanting to participate in the US tour?
This year in particular, I've been wanting to compete in major tournaments and the Olympics and compete overseas, so I really wanted to take this exam.
-You fought really well at the Olympics and KPMG (US Women's PGA Championship), but after those matches, did you feel like you could compete on the US tour?
There were a few areas where I thought I could do well, but at the same time, I also felt that there were still many areas where I needed to improve, so I would like to finish the year with a good result in this qualifying tournament.
-How are you feeling, your condition, and how are your shots feeling?
Every time I come overseas I usually end up getting sick, but this time I feel like I am in good health.
--It's going to be a long five-day event, so what will you be focusing on? Also, what do you think are the key points?
It's a long five-day course, so I think it's important to minimize bogeys, so I'll manage the course well. I'd like to play in a way that allows me to get birdies when the chance arises.
--Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm.
Since this will be my last match of the year, I will do my best with each shot so that I can make it through the qualifying rounds.
◇Akinori Iwai
--The final qualifying round is finally here. How do you feel?
I'm feeling both excited and a little nervous, but I'm more excited than nervous.
--You took part in a US tour this year. Were you inspired in any way?
Through tournaments overseas, I got the impression that overseas players have a strong desire for each shot, so I want to do my best and concentrate on each shot, so that I don't get outdone.
--What was the main reason that you wanted to go on an American tour?
After watching my seniors compete on the world stage, I thought they were really cool, so I wanted to be able to compete on that stage too.
--There are two courses this week. What are your impressions of each?
I think Crossing is a relatively easy course to score on, while Falls is more bearable. The green has undulations, so depending on where the ball lands, it's quite likely that a birdie chance will turn into a bogey.
--What do you think are the key points to coming out on top using the two courses, Falls and Crossing?
I'm attacking the pin, and I think the green is on the fast side, so I think it will be good if I can make some aggressive putts.
--Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm.
I want to stay focused until the very end and do my best in my own way.
◇ Chirei Iwai
--What was the main reason that you decided to compete on the US tour?
It all started when I had the opportunity to compete in a major tournament last year, and every time I played thereafter my desire to compete on the world stage grew stronger and stronger.
--Do you have any mottos when playing golf?
It's fun and at your own pace.
--We will be using two courses this week. What are your impressions of each course?
Crossing is a little flatter and the distance is a little shorter, but Falls has a very undulating green and the course seems long.
--How are you feeling this week?
It's not bad, but it's not great either. But I think getting a score will help me gain confidence, so I'll do my best.
--It's a long five-day event, so are there any aspects you want to keep in mind?
On the contrary, I think it's best not to think about it too much. I just want to do my best each and every day, just like I always do.
--Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm.
I don't know what will happen in my first Q Series (final qualifying tournament), but I will concentrate on each shot and do my best for all my Japanese fans.
◇Hara Erika
--The final qualifying round is about to begin, how do you feel now?
I am trying my best to memorize the two courses and am concentrating very hard.
--How is your physical condition right now?
I arrived here on the 28th, and it seems I had quite a bit of jet lag, so I was sleeping the whole time, but I'm fine now. I've gotten used to it and feel refreshed.
--What was your main reason for wanting to fight in America?
After all, it's a place I've always wanted to visit, and I wanted to try out different courses.
--Falls and Crossing are two different types of courses. What are your impressions of each?
The greens on both courses are quite fast and there are many large greens, so I think the ability to drop the ball down will be important.
--It's a long battle, five days, so is there anything you want to keep in mind?
I want to try not to get too excited or upset about one mistake, and I'd like to get some birdies, but first I want to keep in mind the most important thing to do is to not drop the ball and avoid going into hazards.
--Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm.
I will try my best and give it my all.
◇Yoshida Yuri
--How are your conditions?
I still have a little jet lag, but the temperature difference is greater than I expected, so I want to be careful about that.
-You played really well in the Lotte Championship this year, but how did you feel at the end of the season?
I think I'm in a better condition than I was at the beginning of the season.
--Last year it was a six-day battle, but this year it's been five days. Is there anything you can use from last year's experience?
I think knowing two courses is a big advantage, and I have the impression that the greens are a little faster this year.
Q: How does your swing feel so far this week?
There are still many things I can't do, but I'm getting a lot better, and I'm increasingly hitting the ball and hitting it the way I imagine, so I'd like to make some good adjustments leading up to the weekend.
--You have to finish within the top 25, but what level do you want to focus on when playing?
My number one goal is to hit the green firmly on the second shot, and even if the pin position is in a tough spot, I need to aim for safety, so I think a well-balanced style of golf is required, so I hope I can do well in that area.
--Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm.
This year's event is a little shorter than last year at five days, so we'll do our best to make progress from the very first day.
◇ Saki Baba
--The final qualifying round is finally here, so first of all, please tell us how you are feeling.
I'm feeling excited and fired up, and ready to do my best!
You played on this course in the final qualifying tournament last year as well. What do you think are the key points to making the most of your experience?
Last year was quite cold and the green conditions were similar in some places, so I'd like to attack well in those conditions and do my best to get a good score.
--You've been competing in the lower level tour for a whole year this year. What did you gain from that?
I was able to clearly see where my skills are lacking. Also, this year I played golf almost entirely by myself, so my mental state was completely different from last year, and I think my approach to setting goals has changed a lot.
--Do you feel that you have grown as a person in any area other than golf?
I just hope that I've grown (laughs). I don't really feel like I've improved much myself, but my father and others have told me things like, "Maybe you've improved in this area?", so I hope that I've grown.
--The two courses, Falls and Crossing, are the same as last year's. What are your impressions?
What impressed me the most was that the sand in the bunkers was very fine and there was a lot of it, so I thought it would be very difficult.
--There are some concerns about the weather this week as well, so what do you want to keep in mind when playing?
Five days is a long time, so I hope to stay focused until the very end and play each shot without giving up.
◇Suzuna Yamaguchi
--The final qualifying tournament after the professional test in Japan is a pretty tough schedule, so how are you feeling physically?
It's okay, I'm in perfect health for now.
--The final qualifying round is finally here. How do you feel?
It's been a while since I've done a Q series, so I'm a little nervous, but I'm really looking forward to it.
--This is your third qualifying tournament, so please tell us again about your thoughts on the US tour.
Over the past three years or so I've been taking pro tests and practicing hard, but it wasn't going well, so I've been working on various modifications to my swing, and I passed the test this time and am back in the final qualifying round, so I feel like I just have to keep working hard and aim for the top.
--I think this qualifying tournament has a unique atmosphere, but having experienced it several times, what are some key points you feel are important?
It's been a while since I last did it, so I'm not that great, but the course is long and I think the key point will be how well I can endure when I'm not feeling well.
--Is there anything you keep in mind during the long five-day qualifying round?
There are five days left, so don't worry. First of all, I think it's important for me to get a perfect score and hang in there.
--Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm.
It's been a while since my last Q Series, but I'll do my best for five days and aim to finish within the top 25.
* The "LPGA Women's Golf Tour 2025 Final Qualifier" will be streamed on WOWOW On Demand PPV. Only those who purchase a streaming ticket can watch it.
Streaming tickets are priced at 3,300 yen for all dates (from the first to the last day), 2,200 yen for the preliminary round (from the first to the fourth day), and 1,650 yen for the final round (last day). Tickets are on sale until December 31st.
