• Blythefield Country Club
• Belmont, Michigan
Purse: $3 million Defending Champion: Leona Maguire (2025)
The Meijer LPGA Classic returns to Michigan as one of the most important mid‑season events on the LPGA calendar. With its traditional low scoring, pure bentgrass greens, and a field stacked with major champions and rising stars, the 2026 edition is shaping up as one of the strongest in tournament history.
Venue: Blythefield Country Club
Location: Belmont, Michigan (10 miles north of Grand Rapids)
Par: 72
Yardage: ~6,600 yards
Grass: Bentgrass greens, Kentucky bluegrass rough
Course Identity:
Wide fairways
Receptive greens
Birdie‑friendly layout
Historically produces winning scores between -17 and -25
Blythefield rewards elite wedge play, hot putters, and aggressive scoring on reachable par‑5s.
Start Date & Tee Times
Tournament begins: Thursday, June 18, 2026
First tee time: Approximately 7:15 a.m. ET
Final round: Sunday, June 21, 2026, with leaders teeing off around 1:00 p.m. ET
Weather Conditions (Projected)
Michigan in mid‑June typically brings warm, humid scoring conditions.
Thursday: 78°F, light winds, soft greens — ideal for low scoring
Friday: 82°F, 10–12 mph winds — slightly tougher afternoon wave
Saturday: 80°F, scattered showers — course may soften further
Sunday: 84°F, breezy — leaders may face tougher approach shots
Impact: Expect low scores early, with potential volatility on Sunday if winds rise.
Injury Report
(Based on current LPGA player status entering the week)
Likely IN / Healthy
Nelly Korda
Lilia Vu
Jin Young Ko
Atthaya Thitikul
Leona Maguire
Brooke Henderson
Questionable
Rose Zhang — recovering from minor wrist inflammation
Hyo Joo Kim — monitoring shoulder tightness
OUT
Linn Grant — illness
Charley Hull — back spasms
Recent Player Form (Key Contenders)
Nelly Korda
2026 season: 2 wins, 6 top‑10s
Strengths: elite ball‑striking, top‑5 in strokes gained tee‑to‑green
Weakness: streaky putter
Perfect fit for Blythefield’s approach‑heavy scoring.
Lilia Vu
2026 season: returning from injury but trending upward
Strengths: major‑championship composure, strong wedge play
Weakness: driving accuracy
If healthy, she’s a top‑tier threat.
Leona Maguire (Defending Champion)
2026 season: 1 win, 4 top‑10s
Strengths: elite putter, thrives on birdie‑fest layouts
Weakness: inconsistent off the tee
Her putting alone keeps her in contention.
Atthaya Thitikul
2026 season: 7 top‑10s
Strengths: consistency, elite iron play
Weakness: can struggle closing on Sundays
One of the safest top‑10 bets in the field.
Brooke Henderson
2026 season: improving after slow start
Strengths: power + high‑trajectory irons
Weakness: putting
Course suits her aggressive style.
Tournament History
The Meijer LPGA Classic has become one of the tour’s most popular events due to its scoring conditions and strong fields.
Recent Champions
2025: Leona Maguire (-21)
2024: Nelly Korda (-20)
2023: Leona Maguire (-21)
2022: Jennifer Kupcho (-18)
2021: Nelly Korda (-25)
Historical Trends
Winning score typically -18 to -25
Multiple repeat champions (Korda, Maguire)
Hot putters dominate
Par‑5 scoring is the key differentiator
Key Player Matchups
Nelly Korda vs. Atthaya Thitikul
Korda has higher ceiling; Thitikul has higher floor
Both top‑5 in strokes gained approach
Likely Sunday contenders
Leona Maguire vs. Brooke Henderson
Maguire: putting advantage
Henderson: tee‑to‑green advantage
Whoever scores better on par‑5s wins this matchup
Lilia Vu vs. Jin Young Ko
Vu: more aggressive
Ko: more consistent
Ko’s precision may give her the edge on firm greens
Betting Trends
1. Repeat winners thrive here
Korda and Maguire have combined for four wins since 2021.
2. Top‑10 machines perform well
Thitikul and Ko rarely miss cuts and excel on approach‑friendly layouts.
3. Par‑5 scoring is the #1 predictor
Past champions ranked top‑3 in par‑5 scoring for the week.
4. Weather softens scoring
Soft greens = low Thursday/Friday scoring
Windy Sunday = live‑betting volatility
5. Underdogs rarely win
Last 10 winners were all ranked inside the top 30.
