By: Max Bechtoldt
The LPGA returns to China this week for the Blue Bay LPGA, the first time the event has been played since 2018. While the LPGA is competing with an Aramco event, thus lessening the quality of field this weekend, its still a great full-field in China. Here are five players I expect to compete:
- Ruoning Yin – The No. 4 player in the world headlines the home-country players here, really trying to get her season kick-started. The major champion is looking for her first top-10 of the season coming off her best result of the season last weekend.
- Ayaka Furue – You have to imagine that Furue gets a win here soon. Nobody has been as consistent as anyone this season. She already has three top-10 finishes in four starts and seems likely to continue that here.
- Minjee Lee – Lee, like Yin is looking for her first good result here. Lee has only played once in 2024, last week, where she finished in a tie for 29th. Good for Lee, she has a course she’s comfortable on, having the tournament record in 2016 at -13.
- Celine Boutier – Boutier was so close to grabbing her first win of 2024 at the HSBC Women’s World Championship last week, until a 30-foot putt from Hannah Green on 18 reached the bottom of the cup. Boutier made her 2023 look like it wasn’t a fluke in Singapore, and I expect that to continue.
- Lydia Ko – Though Ko didn’t perform as well last week, with a tie for 34th finish, she still leads the CME Tour standings thanks to her two top-two finishes including a win at the season-opening event. Ko’s game is in great form again, which should make her a betting favorite every week she plays.
