LPGA Aramco Championship: Thitikul, Kim & 2026 Preview | Golf News & Odds

The 2026 Aramco Championship has arrived at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas, Nevada, marking a significant stop on the 2026 LPGA Tour schedule. The event welcomes 120 world-class players to the desert for a tournament co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour. As the competition begins in early April 2026, attention focuses on the betting favorites, recent form guides, and the specific challenges posed by the Shadow Creek layout.

Betting Favorites and Odds

According to betting odds analyzed by Golf News Net, Nelly Korda enters the tournament as the favorite. Korda is listed at 5-to-1 (+600) betting odds to win the event outright. This positioning comes despite Korda finishing as runner-up in back-to-back LPGA events leading into the Aramco Championship. In both of those recent instances, Korda lost only to Hyo Joo Kim.

Jeeno Thitikul holds the next best position on the odds board at 10-to-1 to start the week. Thitikul, identified as the World Number One in LPGA reporting, is looking to get back into the conversation after the last two weeks of play. Hyo Joo Kim follows closely on the odds board at 11-to-1. Kim enters the tournament seeking a third win in a row, having already secured victories earlier in the season.

Recent Form and Winner Context

The form guide for the 2026 LPGA Tour winners indicates a tight competition among the top contenders. Data from the LPGA confirms five tour winners recorded so far in 2026. Hannah Green claimed victory at the HSBC Women’s World Championship. Hyo Joo Kim secured wins at both the Fortinet Founders Cup and the Ford Championship.

The Fortinet Founders Cup took place on March 21, 2026, at Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club in Menlo Park, California. During the third round of that event, Nelly Korda was documented on the 11th hole. The proximity of that tournament to the Aramco Championship highlights the quick turnaround for players competing in the early spring schedule.

Lydia Ko also enters the field with strong recent performance metrics. Reports indicate Ko shot 20 under par in the week prior to the Aramco Championship. Although that score did not result in a victory, the performance provides confidence heading into the Las Vegas event. Hannah Green has been noted for dominating play in Australia in the weeks leading up to this tournament, with analysis suggesting that form could carry over to the desert course.

Course Challenges at Shadow Creek

Shadow Creek Golf Course presents a distinct profile compared to other desert-style events on the tour. While the location places the tournament in a desert environment, the course features tough putting surfaces and somewhat narrowed landing areas. These conditions require precision from the field of 120 players.

The co-sanctioning with the Ladies European Tour adds depth to the field quality. The purse and high quality of the competition create a challenging environment for all participants. The specific layout demands that players adapt to the narrowed landing areas while managing the complex greens.

Field Composition and International Presence

The international makeup of the field remains a key storyline for the 2026 Aramco Championship. Reporting from the Seoul Economic Daily indicates that the Korean field has shrinks to 12 players for this event. This reduction occurs even as Hyo Joo Kim remains a central figure in the contention picture.

Australian representation is highlighted by the presence of Hannah Green. Green’s recent victory at the HSBC Women’s World Championship establishes her as a dominant force entering the Las Vegas leg of the tour. The combination of established champions and rising contenders ensures a competitive landscape throughout the tournament rounds.

Tournament Outlook

As the 2026 Aramco Championship unfolds, the narrative centers on whether Hyo Joo Kim can complete a three-peat of victories. Conversely, Nelly Korda seeks to convert recent runner-up finishes into a win. Jeeno Thitikul aims to leverage her World Number One ranking to overcome the 10-to-1 odds.

The event continues the 2026 LPGA Tour schedule with high stakes for all 120 participants. With tough putting surfaces and narrowed landing areas at Shadow Creek, the tournament tests every aspect of the players’ games. Betting markets and form guides suggest a close competition among the top-ranked players as they navigate the Las Vegas course.