Bubble watch: With two weeks left, see who's making moves in CME points race with $4 million winner's check at stake

beth ann nichols

Mon, 4 Nov 2024, 5:00 pm·3-min read

OTSU, JAPAN - OCTOBER 31: Yuna Nishimura of Japan hits her tee shot on the 16th hole during the first round of the TOTO Japan Classic 2024 at Seta Golf Course on October 31, 2024 in Otsu, Shiga, Japan. (Photo by Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images)

Marina Alex added this week's Lotte Championship to her schedule to bolster her chances of getting into the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. After a runner-up finish in Japan, however, the 34-year-old won't need to worry about that. Alex moved far enough up the Race to CME Globe points list to secure her spot in the 60-player field.

This year's CME purse is $11 million, up from $7 million last year, with a record $4 million going to the winner. The runner-up of this year’s event will receive $1 million. Every competitor in the 60-player field will be awarded at least $55,000 at the 72-hole, no-cut event.

Only two tournaments remain before the cutoff point at the conclusion of The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. The top 60 players on the CME Globe list will qualify for the Nov. 21-24 event, held at Tiburon Golf Club.

Here’s a list of players making moves – and some who need to – down the stretch:

32. Marina Alex

OTSU, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 03: Marina Alex of the United States hits her tee shot on the 7th hole during the final round of the TOTO Japan Classic 2024 at Seta Golf Course on November 3, 2024 in Otsu, Shiga, Japan. (Photo by Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images)

Alex lost in a six-hole playoff at the Toto Japan Classic but earned enough points to move up 29 spots to No. 32. She was 61st on the points list heading into Japan.

61. Hyo Joo Kim

OTSU, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 03: Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea hits her tee shot on the 3rd hole during the final round of the TOTO Japan Classic 2024 at Seta Golf Course on November 3, 2024 in Otsu, Shiga, Japan. (Photo by Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images)

Kim, 29, tied for 17th in Japan and moved up five places to No. 61. She's one spot outside the cut line to qualify.

62. Alexa Pano

OTSU, JAPAN - OCTOBER 31: Alexa Pano of the United States hits her tee shot on the 15th hole during the first round of the TOTO Japan Classic 2024 at Seta Golf Course on October 31, 2024 in Otsu, Shiga, Japan. (Photo by Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images)

Pano moved up one spot after a T-34 in Japan, inching her way to 60th. The 20-year-old American is not in the field this week in Hawaii.

67. Yuna Nishimura

OTSU, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 03: Yuna Nishimura of Japan is seen before her tee shot on the 13th hole during the final round of the TOTO Japan Classic 2024 at Seta Golf Course on November 3, 2024 in Otsu, Shiga, Japan. (Photo by Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images)

Nishimura bumped up two spots to No. 67 after a T-12 on home soil. She's playing the Lotte this week looking to make another move.

70. Hira Naveed

OTSU, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 03: Hira Naveed of Australia hits out from a bunker on the 12th hole during the final round of the TOTO Japan Classic 2024 at Seta Golf Course on November 3, 2024 in Otsu, Shiga, Japan. (Photo by Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images)

Naveed bumped up four spots after a T-17 finish at the Toto, her first top 20 since the CPKC Women's Open in July.

DOWN

58. Hinako Shibuno

OTSU, JAPAN - OCTOBER 31: Hinako Shibuno of Japan smiles on the 3rd tee during the first round of the TOTO Japan Classic 2024 at Seta Golf Course on October 31, 2024 in Otsu, Shiga, Japan. (Photo by Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images)

Former AIG Women's British Open winner dropped down two spots to No. 58 after a T-47 in her native Japan. She's in the Lotte field.

59. Carlota Ciganda

PAJU, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 19: Carlota Ciganda of Spain hits her tee shot on the 6th hole during the third round of the BMW Ladies Championship 2024 at Seowon Hills Country Club on October 19, 2024 in Paju, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

While still inside the top 60, Ciganda moved down two spots to No. 59 after a T-56 in Japan. The Spaniard is not in the Lotte field this week.

60. Gaby Lopez

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 11:Gaby Lopez of Mexico reacts on the 18th green during the second round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai 2024 at Qizhong Garden Golf Club on October 11, 2024 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhe Ji/Getty Images)

After dropping down one spot, Lopez now sits right on the bubble at 60th. She's in the field this week in Hawaii after taking last week off.

63. Ashleigh Buhai

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - OCTOBER 24: Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa swings prior to her tee shot on the 1st hole during the first round of the Maybank Championship 2024 at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club on October 24, 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)

South Africa's Buhai also made the trip to Oahu. She dropped down three spots to No. 63 after taking last week off.

64. Alison Lee

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 10: Alison Lee of the United States hits a tee shot on the first hole during the first round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai 2024 at Qizhong Garden Golf Club on October 10, 2024 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhe Ji/Getty Images)

Lee dropped two positions after skipping last week's LPGA stop to play on the LET in Saudi Arabia, where she tied for 53rd. She's not in the Lotte field and will need a good week at Pelican to play her way into the field.CME.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Bubble watch: With two weeks left, see who's making moves in CME points race with $4 million winner's check at stake