I have been asked many times how the LPGA constructs their field lists for tournaments. The Priority List is used to fill the required amount of spots for any given tournament. Without getting into the categories, which is potentially confusing, here is a brief explanation.

Most full field events have a field of 144 players. Usually, 140 of the players come from the Priority List ranking. Two players are Monday qualifiers, and 2 more are sponsor exemptions.

So to keep it simple, if your Priority Rating is #150, you have to hope that 10 players decide not to play, or you are probably not making it into that week’s LPGA Tournament field.

1. Top-80: Members in the top 80 (and ties) on the previous season-ending Points List.

Priority is based on the order of the list. Ties will be broken by the Members’ positions on the previous season-ending Money List.

1. Lilia Vu
2. Celine Boutier
3. Ruoning Yin
4. Hyo Joo Kim
5. Minjee Lee
6. Jin Young Ko
7. Atthaya Thitikul
8. Xiyu Lin
9. Allisen Corpuz
10. Ayaka Furue
11. Charley Hull
12. Nasa Hataoka
13. Hae Ran Ryu
14. Nelly Korda
15. Brooke M. Henderson
16. Angel Yin
17. Yuka Saso
18. Amy Yang
19. Leona Maguire
20. Megan Khang
21. Alison Lee
22. Georgia Hall
23. Ashleigh Buhai
24. Linn Grant
25. Cheyenne Knight
26. Rose Zhang
27. Ariya Jutanugarn
28. Carlota Ciganda
29. Hannah Green
30. Maja Stark
31. 3Grace Kim
32. Ally Ewing
33. Austin Ernst *
34. A Lim Kim
35. Jessica Korda **
36. Jenny Shin
37. Lizette Salas *
38. Jennifer Kupcho
39. Hye-Jin Choi
40. Esther Henseleit
41. Jodi Ewart Shadoff
42. Yu Liu 
43. Pajaree Anannarukarn
44. Aditi Ashok
45. Gaby Lopez
46. Alexa Pano
47. Linnea Strom
48. Anna Nordqvist
49. Chella Choi **
50. Sei Young Kim
51. Jasmine Suwannapura
52. Yuna Nishimura
53. Peiyun Chien
54. Gemma Dryburgh
55. Chanettee Wannasaen
56. Elizabeth Szokol
57. Sophia Popov **
58. Danielle Kang
59. Inbee Park **
60. Patty Tavatanakit
61. Madelene Sagstrom
62. Caroline Masson **
63. Perrine Delacour
64. Bianca Pagdanganan
65. Stephanie Kyriacou
66. Sarah Kemp
67. Andrea Lee
68. Sarah Schmelzel
69. Celine Borge
70. Albane Valenzuela
71. Daniela Darquea *
72. Azahara Munoz
73. Eun-Hee Ji
74. Lauren Coughlin
75. Mi Hyang Lee
76. Nanna Koerstz Madsen
77. Brittany Altomare **
78. Ryann O’Toole
79. Jaye Marie Green **
80. Emily Kristine Pedersen
81. Narin An
82. Stephanie Meadow
83. Matilda Castren
84. Maude-Aimee Leblanc *
85. Brittany Lincicome **
86. Minami Katsu
87. In Gee Chun
88. Maria Fassi
89. Yan Liu
90. Yani Tseng *
91. Lindsey Weaver-Wright
92. Lexi Thompson
93. Olivia Cowan

* Medical ** Maternity

2. Career Top-20: Members in the top 20 on the Career Money List as of the end of the last Official Tournament of the previous season.

Priority is based on the order of the list. To be included in this category (a) the Member must have notified the LPGA that she wanted to be included in the Career Top 20 category by November 15th of the previous year, (b) if a Member elects to be included in the Career Top 20 Category, she will be in this category for one season, (c) a Member may be included in this category only two times in her career, and (d) a Member may only be in the Career Top 20 category or the Career Top 40 category (but not both) in her career.

3. Major Winner: Members who have won an LPGA Major Championship while a Member during the previous five (5) seasons or during the current season.

Priority is based on the number of such wins during the previous five (5) seasons. Ties are broken by the Members’ positions on the Career Money List as of the end of the previous season. (Note: Pursuant to the 2021 COVID-19 Regulations Addendum, Members: (1) whose most recent Major win was in 2018 will be eligible for this category through the 2024 season, and (2) whose most recent Major win was in 2019 will be eligible for this category through the 2025 season).

95. Angela Stanford
96. Mi Jung Hur **
97. Hee Young Park **
98. Sung Hyun Park
99. Mirim Lee
100. Jeongeun Lee6
101. Pernilla Lindberg

** Maternity

4. Winner: Members who have won an Official Tournament while a Member within the last two (2) calendar seasons or during the current season

102. Lydia Ko
103. Moriya Jutanugarn
104. Marina Alex
105. Julieta Granada **
106. Paula Reto

** Maternity

5. Multiple Wins: Members who have won at least two (2) Official Tournaments while a Member in the same season in any of the previous three (3) seasons.

Priority is based on the number of wins during all the previous three seasons. Ties are broken by the Members’ positions on the Career Money List as of the end of the previous season.

Nil

6. Three Wins in the Same Season: Members who have won three (3) or more Official Tournaments while a Member during the same season in any of the previous four (4) seasons.

Priority is based on the number of wins during all the previous four (4) seasons. Ties are broken by the Members’ positions on the Career Money List as of the end of the previous season. (Note: Pursuant to the 2021 COVID-19 Regulations Addendum, Members: (1) whose most recent year with three wins with was in 2018 will be eligible for this category through 2023, and (2) whose most recent year with three wins was 2019 will be eligible for this category through 2024.)

Nil

7. Non-Member Win: Players who have won at least one (1) Official Tournament as a Non-Member within the previous season or during the current season.

Priority is based on the earliest date of such wins. A Player must be eligible for and accept membership to be included in this category. Beginning in 2024, a Non-Member who wins an Official Tournament will be eligible for this category for the remainder of the season in which she wins and for two consecutive seasons thereafter. A Non-Member who wins a Major Championship in 2021 and after will be eligible for this category for the remainder of the season in which she wins and for five consecutive seasons thereafter.

107. Mone Inami

8. Current Year Top-80: Members in the Top 80 of the current season’s Points List after the First Reshuffle Tournament with priority based on the order of the list.

For the remaining Official Tournaments of the season, Members in the Top 80 on the current season’s Points List after the Second Reshuffle Tournament. Ties are broken by the Members’ positions on the current season Priority List as of the Commitment Deadline for each respective reshuffle tournament.

Nil

9. Top-10 Epson Tour: Top 10 (and ties) on the previous season-ending Epson Tour Money List.

Priority is based on their position on the list. Ties will be broken by the Members’ scoring average as of the end of the previous season. If still tied, refer to the previous season Epson Tournament and Player Regulations.

108. Gabriela Ruffels
109. Natasha Andrea Oon
110. Auston Kim
111. Jiwon Jeon
112. Minji Kang
113. Agathe Laisne
114. Jenny Coleman
115. Roberta Liti
116. Isabella Fierro
117. Kristen Gillman

10. Non-Member Top 40: Non-Member Professionals who, as of the conclusion of the last Official Tournament of the previous season, earned a number of Points during such season in Official Tournaments with a cut, that is equal to or greater than the number of Official Points earned by the Member who was in 40th place on the Points List at that time.

Priority is based on the number of Points earned in such tournaments. Ties will be broken by the earliest time at which the Non-Member earned the number of Points necessary to be included in the category. A Player must be eligible for and accept LPGA membership to be included in this category.

Nil

11. Nos. 81-100: Members finishing Nos. 81-100 (and ties) on the previous season-ending Points List.

Priority is based on the order of the list. Ties will be broken by the Members’ positions on the previous season-ending Money List.

118. Pavarisa Yoktuan
119. Hinako Shibuno
120. Wichanee Meechai
121. Katherine Kirk *
122. Mel Reid
123. Haeji Kang *
124. Stacy Lewis
125. Bailey Tardy
126. Frida Kinhult
127. Gina Kim
128. Lindy Duncan
129. Karis Davidson
130. Arpichaya Yubol
131. Jaravee Boonchant
132. Wei-Ling Hsu
133. Morgane Metraux
134. Dani Holmqvist

* Medical

12. Career Top 40: Members in the top 40 on the Career Money List as of the end of the previous season.

Priority is based on the order of the list. To be included in this category (a) the Member must notify the LPGA that she wants to be included in the Career Top 40 Category by November 15th of the previous year, and (b) if a Member elects to be included in the Career Top 40 Category she will be in this category for one season, (c) a Member may be included in this category only one time in her career, (d) a Member may only be in the Career Top 40 Category or the Career Top 20 Category (but not both) in her career.

135. In Kyung Kim

13. Current-Year Reshuffle: After the First Reshuffle Tournament, Members in categories 14 through 20 who have earned Points will be re-seeded into Category 13. Members placed into Category 13 will be ranked in the order of their position on the current season’s Points List through the First Reshuffle Tournament. Members will remain in this category until the next reshuffle. After the Second Reshuffle Tournament, Members in categories 13, and 14 through 20, who have earned Points will be re-seeded into Category 13. Members placed into Category 13 will be ranked in the order of their position on the current year’s Points List through the Second Reshuffle Tournament. Members will remain in this category for the remainder of the season.

For all reshuffles, ties are broken by the Members’ positions on the current season Priority List as of the Commitment Deadline for each respective reshuffle tournament.

Nil

14. Top-20 Q-School: Players finishing Nos. 1-20 (and ties) at the previous year’s LPGA Q-Series.

Ties will be broken in the following order: lowest final round; lowest 7th round; lowest 6th round; lowest 5th round; etc. until the tie is broken. If players remain tied, ties will be broken by a match of score cards beginning with the 18th hole of the final round and working backwards.

136. Caroline Inglis *
137. Robyn Choi
138. Mao Saigo
139. So Mi Lee
140. Mina Harigae
141. Gurleen Kaur
142. Polly Mack
143. Hyo Joon Jang
144. Yu Jin Sung
145. Yuri Yoshida
146. Laetitia Beck
147. Isi Gabsa *
148. Savannah Grewal
149. Yiyi Liu
150. Xiaowen Yin
151. Liqi Zeng
152. Hira Naveed
153. Lauren Hartlage
154. Jing Yan
155. Jennifer Song
156. Sofia Garcia
157. Yealimi Noh
158. Lucy Li
159. Jin Hee Im

* Medical

15. Nos. 21-45 Q-School: Players finishing Nos. 21-45 (and ties) at the previous year’s LPGA Q-Series.

Ties will be broken in the following order: lowest final round; lowest 7th round; lowest 6th round; lowest 5th round; etc. until the tie is broken. If players remain tied, ties will be broken by a match of score cards beginning with the 18th hole of the final round and working backwards.

160. Malia Nam
161. Nataliya Guseva
162. Jeongeun Lee5
163. Aline Krauter
164. Kiira Riihijarvi
165. Kelly Tan
166. Alexandra Forsterling
167. Ana Pelaez Trivino
168. Kaitlyn Papp Budde
169. Natthakritta Vongtaveelap *
170. Benedetta Moresco
171. Kaitlin Milligan
172. Lauren Stephenson
173. Ssu-Chia Cheng
174. Weiwei Zhang
175. Mariajo Uribe
176. Alena Sharp
177. Trichat Cheenglab
178. Maddie Szeryk
179. Laura Wearn
180. Sandra Gal *
181. Clariss Guce
182. Sophia Schubert
183. Cydney Clanton
184. Becca Huffer
185. Yue Ren
186. Amy Olson **
187. Gigi Stoll
188. Annie Park
189. Nicole Broch Estrup
190. Jung Min Hong

* Medical ** Maternity

16. Nos. 101-125: Members finishing Nos. 101-125 (and ties) on the previous season-ending Points List.

Priority is based on the order of the list. Ties will be broken by the Members’ positions on the previous season-ending Money

191. Amanda Doherty
192. Pornanong Phatlum
193. Emma Talley
194. Muni He
195. Soo Bin Joo
196. Ruixin Liu
197. Dewi Weber
198. Marissa Steen
199. Dottie Ardina
200. Min Lee

17. Tournament Winners: Members who won an Official Tournament while a Member within the previous twentyone (21) seasons.

Priority is based on the number of wins. Ties are broken by the Members’ positions on the Career Money List as of the end of the previous season.

201. Annika Sorenstam 202. Karrie Webb 203. Beth Daniel 204. Juli Inkster 205. Lorena Ochoa 206. Se Ri Pak 207. Cristie Kerr 208. Meg Mallon 209. Suzann Pettersen 210. Rosie Jones 211. Liselotte Neumann 212. Na Yeon Choi 213. Ai Miyazato 214. Mi Hyun Kim 215. Sherri Steinhauer 216. Rachel Hetherington 217. Helen Alfredsson 218. So Yeon Ryu 219. Hee-Won Han 220. Pat Hurst 221. Grace Park 222. Michelle Wie West 223. Maria McBride 224. Catriona Matthew 225. Candie Kung 226. Wendy Ward 227. Seon Hwa Lee 228. Dorothy Delasin 229. Christina Kim 230. Wendy Doolan 231. Haru Nomura 232. Morgan Pressel 233. Brittany Lang 234. Jeong Jang 235. Sun Young Yoo 236. Karen Stupples 237. Jimin Kang 238. Patricia Meunier-Lebouc 239. Ji Young Oh 240. Heather Daly-Donofrio 241. Natalie Gulbis 242. Jee Young Lee 243. Mo Martin 244. Heather Bowie Young 245. Nicole Castrale 246. Leta Lindley 247. Moira Dunn-Bohls 248. Ilhee Lee 249. Kim Saiki-Maloney 250. Bronte Law 251. Marisa Baena 252. Lee-Anne Pace 253. Kris Tamulis 254. Silvia Cavalleri 255. Jennifer Johnson 256. Birdie Kim 257. Meaghan Francella 258. Eunjung Yi

18. Tournament Winners: Members who won an Official Tournament while a Member more than twenty-one (21) seasons prior.

Priority is based on the number of wins. Ties are broken by the Members’ positions on the Career Money List as of the end of the previous season.

259. Nancy Lopez 260. JoAnne Carner 261. Sandra Haynie 262. Patty Sheehan 263. Betsy King 264. Pat Bradley 265. Amy Alcott 266. Jane Blalock 267. Judy Rankin 268. Donna Caponi 269. Laura Davies 270. Sandra Palmer 271. Hollis Stacy 272. Dottie Pepper 273. Jan Stephenson 274. Sally Little 275. Jane Geddes 276. Susie Maxwell Berning 277. Clifford Ann Creed 278. Christa Johnson 279. Mary Mills 280. Alice Miller 281. Sandra Post 282. Tammie Green 283. Danielle Ammaccapane 284. Michelle McGann 285. Debbie Austin 286. Kathy Cornelius 287. Donna Andrews 288. Val Skinner 289. Jo Ann Prentice 290. Brandie Burton 291. Deb Richard 292. Barb Mucha 293. Lorie Kane 294. Cindy Rarick 295. Judy Dickinson 296. Penny Hammel 297. Kathy Postlewait 298. Mary Beth Zimmerman 299. Betty Burfeindt 300. Murle Breer 301. Sue Roberts 302. Emilee Klein 303. Nancy Scranton 304. Sherri Turner 305. Vicki Fergon 306. Martha Nause 307. Debbie Massey 308. Lauri Merten 309. Terry-Jo Myers 310. Donna White 311. Cathy Gerring 312. Pam Higgins 313. Gloria Ehret 314. Betsy Cullen 315. Laura Diaz 316. Janice Moodie 317. Michele Redman 318. Elaine Crosby 319. Dana Dormann 320. Gail Graham 321. Laurie Rinker 322. Jody Anschutz 323. Janet Coles 324. Anne Marie Palli 325. Jerilyn Britz 326. Kathy Guadagnino 327. Bonnie Lauer 328. Cindy Hill 329. Jan Ferraris 330. Tina Barrett 331. Kris Tschetter 332. Kelli Kuehne 333. Michelle Estill 334. Jane Crafter 335. Cindy Figg-Currier 336. Jenny Lidback 337. Becky Iverson 338. Charlotta Sorenstam 339. Cindy Schreyer 340. Kate Golden 341. Amy Fruhwirth 342. Missie McGeorge 343. Joan Pitcock 344. Marta Figueras-Dotti 345. Nanci Bowen 346. Allison Finney 347. Missie Berteotti 348. Cathy Johnston-Forbes 349. Kathryn Imrie 350. Mardi Lunn 351. Julie Piers 352. Barb Whitehead 353. Laurel Kean 354. Tracy Kerdyk 355. Cathy Morse 356. Lisa D’Amore 357. Carolyn Hill 358. Janet Anderson 359. Shirley Furlong 360. Lynn Adams 361. Becky Pearson 362. Dot Germain 363. Tina Fischer 364. Pat Meyers 365. Jennifer Wyatt 366. Susie McAllister 367. Patty Hayes 368. Tina Tombs 369. Lauren Howe 370. Sharon Barrett 371. Patty Jordan-Smith 372. Barbara Barrow 373. Bonnie Bryant 374. Brooke Pancake ** 375. Pam Barnett

** Maternity

19. Nos. 126-150: Members finishing Nos. 126-150 (and ties) on the previous season-ending Points List.

Priority is based on the order of the list. Ties will be broken by the Members’ positions on the previous season-ending Money List.

376. Su Oh
377. Pauline Roussin
378. Rachel Rohanna **
379. Jackie Stoelting **
380. Yu-Sang Hou
381. Caroline Hedwall
382. Gabriella Then
383. Jennifer Chang

** Maternity

The LPGA will have two Priority List reshuffles during the 2024 season. The first one is usually at the end of May, and the second one at the end of July. Players who start the season with a poor priority ranking and play well in the few opportunities that they get to tee it up will have the chance to be reshuffled into playing much more regularly.

Feature Photo: Gabriela Ruffels at the 2023 Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic – Photographer Ben Harpring. All photos in this article are by Ben.