Out of the Rough: JM Eagle LA Championship (2026)

After a week off for the Masters Tournament, the LPGA returns to action for this week’s JM Eagle LA Championship.

This year marks the fourth edition of the event to be played at the El Caballero Country Club in Los Angeles, California for the second consecutive season.

The tournament's regular host, the Wilshire Country Club, recently underwent a massive year-long renovation and due to that, the event will once again be held at the El Caballero Country Club as it is not ready for tournament play just yet.

Last year’s installment was also held at the El Caballero Country Club.

The Field

Being the week before the first major event of the season, The Chevron Championship, many of the game’s best will be idle this week.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t a talent field in line to take to Wilshire Country Club this week however.

World No. 3 and the winner of two-of-the-last-three events, Hyo Joo Kim headlines this week’s field.

She’ll be joined by Minjee Lee (No. 5,) Miyu Yamashita (No. 6,) Hannah Green (No. 8,) Lottie Woad (No. 9,) Sei Young Kim (No. 10,) Ruoning Yin (No. 11,) Lauren Coughlin (No. 12) and Haeran Ryu (No. 13) come in as those ranked within the top 15 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings playing this week.

Ingrid Lindbald comes in as the defending champion, claiming her maiden LPGA title in just her third start.

Green won the previous two installments of this event at Wilshire Country Club (2023 and 2024.) 

The Course

The El Caballero Country Club is a remodelled layout designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. that plays as a par-72 at 6,679 yards. It was opened in 1957.

El Caballero Country Club features tight tree-lined fairways that are gently doglegging.

The greens are laid in Bermuda grass and are well-guarded by bunkers.

In 2021, Rees Jones, along with longtime associate Steve Weisser, orchestrated a $10 million tee-to-green renovation of the venue.

The renovation consisted of remodeling the greens, relocating bunkers, installing new drought-tolerant bermuda fairways along with selective tree removal to improve sightlines. 

Rees Jones cited the ability for non-long hitters having easier access to the greens as part of the renovation. 

Although the renovation was extensive, the course itself was not changed. Small changes were made that will impact how the course is played drastically. 

We can expect a low scoring affair this week at Lindbald shot a -21, one better than second place Akie Iwai who carded a -20 a season ago. In all, 15 golfers top -15 or better a season ago.

The Weather

As of the time of writing this Thursday and Friday currently call for just a five-percent chance of precipitation. Saturday and Sunday are currently calling for a 15-percent chance. Temperatures will begin the week at 77-degrees on Thursday before dipping to 73-degrees on Friday. Temperatures will rebound to 74-degrees across both days of the weekend. Winds are currently set for just four miles-per-hour for both Friday and Saturday before increasing to five miles-per-hour on Saturday and ending the week at six miles-per-hour on Sunday.

Key Stats

• Strokes Gained: Approach (SG: APP)

• Strokes Gained: Putting (SG: PUTT)

• Total Driving

• Ball Striking

• Sand Saves Percentage

• Par Five Average Scoring

• Scrambling Percentage

Betting Card

Chizzy Iwai (+2200)

Iwai is coming off her worst performance of the season at the Aramco Championship where she placed 51st. However, prior to that, she placed ninth at the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass, 19th at the Fortinet Founders Cup, 21st at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, second at the Honda LPGA Thailand and 27th at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. She is currently fifth on Tour in scrambling, ninth in par-five average scoring, 18th in SG: APP, 45th in total driving and 46th in SG: PUTT. She also placed T11th here at El Caballero Country Club a season ago. 

Rose Zhang (+2800)

It’s been nearly two years since Zhang has been in the winners circle. However, she was juggling professional golf with her college work. Now graduated, she can focus solely on golf and that has been reflected so far this season. She placed 48th in her latest outing at the Aramco Championship. Prior to that she placed ninth at the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass, 53rd at the Fortinet Founders Cup and ninth at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Zhang is currently tenth on Tour in SG: APP, 20th in scrambling, 43rd in total driving, 64th in par-five average scoring and 70th in SG: PUTT. 

In Gee Chun (+6600)

I’m betting on Chun finding a hot putter this week. She is currently 126th on Tour in SG: PUTT. However, the rest of her game has been elite. She is currently fourth on Tour in SG: APP, sixth in par-five average scoring, 14th in total driving and 15th in scrambling. She’s a hot flat stick away from competing . She also placed T52nd at this event a season ago. Chun last played the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass where she placed fifth. She also placed 27th at the Fortinet Founders Cup. 

Sophia Schubert (+20000)

In a field like this with the first major of the season just a week away, it’s prime for a long shot to compete. With that being said, I’m going really long for my long shot this week in Schubert. Although playing just two events so far, she is currently first on Tour in both total driving and scrambling. Anyone 200/1 leading the Tour in those two categories, I’m going to give a look. She is also fourth in par-five average scoring, 61st in SG: PUTT and 81st in SG: APP. She placed 15th in her latest outing at the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass. Schubert missed the cut at the Fortinet Founders Cup.