By: Max Bechtoldt
The Meijer LPGA Classic, played annually at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Michigan, is one of the best non-majors of the year. Always hosting a strong field and having a prominent winner year in and year out, this is one to absolutely schedule some time to watch. Here are the five players I think are most likely to be in contention at the Meijer LPGA Classic:
No. 5 – Ally Ewing – Ally Ewing has quietly had a pretty good season, not having missed a cut and two top-five finishes, including in her most recent start. Ewing finished in third place at the U.S. Women’s Open thanks to an incredible final round. We know Ewing is a terrific ball striker, and elite ball strikers (Brooke Henderson, Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson) have had a lot of success at Blythefield.
No. 4 Jennifer Kupcho – I’m still waiting for Kupcho to really break out this season. She has been close, with just one missed cut and four top-20 finishes. What better place for her to do so than at Blythefield Country Club, a course which she plays terrifically. Kupcho has finished in the top 10 in all three of her appearances at Meijer, including her second-career win in 2022.
No. 3 Brooke Henderson – The only player to win twice at the Meijer LPGA Classic, Brooke Henderson has seen obvious success here. Henderson hasn’t seen the most consistency at Blythefield in recent years, but she feels due for both another strong finish here and a win in general. Henderson hasn’t won since the first event of 2023, but she has played well with five top-10 finishes in 2024 already.
No. 2 Leona Maguire – The defending champion Leona Maguire isn’t exactly in the best form of late. She did make it to the final match at the T-Mobile Match Play, but she has missed three of her last four cuts. Though her record at Blythefield is about as good as any. If you’re seeing a trend that there are certain players that consistently play well here, you would be correct. Somehow, in her three starts in Belmont, she has never finished worse than second place.
No. 1 Nelly Korda – This week, I won’t really talk about her six wins of the season, but more (shocker) how she plays on this course. In Korda’s five appearances here, she has four top-10 finishes including a win in 2021. There’s arguably not a course she has historically played better, she even holds the tournament scoring record here at -25 in 2021. Coming off her first missed cut of the season and a week off, I expect to see the Nelly Korda we are accustomed to this week.
