The 10th edition of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give gets underway Thursday at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Mich. That’s where 144 of the top-ranked players in women’s golf will square off for a $3 million purse. But that’s not the only prize on the line as players wind into the closing weeks of qualification for the upcoming Olympic games. Here’s a closer look at the five things to know about this week’s LPGA Tour stop.
Leona Maguire defends
There are just courses where certain players tend to play better than others, for whatever reason. For Leona Maguire, she’s found a home away from home of sorts at Blythefield Country Club where she’s been a fixture year after year at the Meijer LPGA Classic. When Maguire played the course for the first time in 2021, she finished runner-up. The following year, she lost out in a three-person playoff to once again settle for a share of second. But the third time was the charm for the Irishwoman, who in 2023, left nothing to chance with her final round 64 to win by two strokes ahead of Ariya Jutanugarn, who carded back-to-back weekend rounds of 66. Maguire has had a slow start to her season thus far, recording a single top 10 with her second place finish at the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards where she lost in the championship match to Nelly Korda.
The field
Year after year, the best in the women’s game have made the trip to Blythefield Country Club and they’ll make the trip once more this season. World No. 1 Nelly Korda headlines the field as she is poised to make her first start since a surprising missed cut at the U.S. Women’s Open. Korda will have good vibes to lean on as she makes her return to Michigan as she was not just the winner there in 2021 but also finished in a tie for second in 2022. She’s joined in the field by Minjee Lee, who held a share of the 54-hole lead at the U.S. Women’s Open but faded on the final day to a tie for ninth. Celine Boutier, the No. 3 ranked player in the world, will make her first start in Michigan since 2022. Boutier has yet to crack the top 30 in her prior appearances at Blythefield. Atthaya Thitikul, who played her way to the top of the leaderboard at the U.S. Women's Open, is also in the field in Michigan. Thitikul has four top 12 finishes in five starts so far this year after she missed the beginning of the season due to a left thumb injury.
Lilia Vu returns
For the first time since March, Lilia Vu will tee it up on the LPGA Tour. Vu has been sidelined for the last several months as she’s dealt with an ongoing back injury, which has bothered her throughout her career. Vu was on site, prepared to defend her title at the Chevron Championship in April, when she withdrew prior to the start of the first round as her back began to flare up while warming up ahead of her opening round. Vu released a statement following the withdrawal, saying she would be seeking doctor’s treatment and recommendations on the next course of action. The former world No. 1 has had a slow start to the season with a single top 10 finish at the Honda LPGA Thailand and two other WDs. Vu last competed in the Meijer LPGA Classic in 2022, when she was tied for 12th for the week.
10th Anniversary
A decade of events staged at Blythefield Country Club have produced an impressive list of champions who have hoisted the trophy in Michigan. Returning to the field again this year is Lexi Thompson, a winner in 2015, who announced during the U.S. Women’s Open that she will retire from competitive golf at the end of the season, is likely making her final appearance this week in Michigan. Also in the field this week is the 2016 champion, Sei Young Kim, along with two-time winner Brooke Henderson who was victorious in 2017 and again in 2019. With Henderson’s second win in Michigan she captured her ninth career victory on the LPGA Tour and became the winningest golfer, male or female, from Canada. Back again this season is Jennifer Kupcho as well, who defeated Maguire and Korda in a playoff to win in 2022.
Olympics
The Meijer LPGA Classic is one of just two remaining events for players to make up ground in the Rolex Rankings and secure a spot in the upcoming Olympic games in Paris. Which players will represent their respective countries is determined based on the world rankings, with just 60 players earning a spot in the field. The top two ranked players from each country will qualify to participate, with countries having up to four players inside the top 15 in the world rankings, eligible to send all four. Teams will be finalized on June 24, upon completion of next week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
