Midland Country Club — Midland, Michigan LPGA Tour — Team Event (Two‑Player Teams)
Venue Information
Midland Country Club 1120 W. St. Andrews Rd, Midland, MI
- Par: 70
- Yardage: 6,300 yards (approx.)
- Format: Two‑player teams, alternating between Foursomes (alternate shot) and Four‑ball (best ball)
- Course Style: Parkland layout with tree‑lined fairways and strategic bunkering
- Key Traits:
- Tight driving corridors
- Small, fast greens
- Emphasis on teamwork and complementary skill sets
- Historically rewards elite ball‑striking teams
Starting Date & Time
- Round 1 Tee Times Begin: Thursday, June 11, 2026 — 7:15 AM ET
- Tournament ends Saturday (54‑hole event)
Weather Conditions (Projected)
Thursday (Round 1 — Four‑ball)
- Temp: 78–82°F
- Wind: 6–10 mph
- Sky: Mostly sunny
- Impact: Low wind = low scoring; expect aggressive play
Friday (Round 2 — Foursomes)
- Temp: 75–79°F
- Wind: 10–14 mph
- Chance of Rain: 15%
- Impact: Alternate shot becomes more demanding; accuracy crucial
Saturday (Final Round — Four‑ball)
- Temp: 80–84°F
- Wind: 8–12 mph
- Sky: Clear
- Impact: Ideal scoring conditions; expect a shootout finish
Course Conditions
- Greens: Bentgrass, rolling at 11.5–12 on the Stimpmeter
- Fairways: Firming up, but still receptive
- Rough: Moderate length, penal around greens
- Hazards: Strategic bunkers, water on select holes
- Key Skills Required:
- Team chemistry
- Elite approach play
- Strong putting under pressure
- Ability to capitalize on Four‑ball scoring opportunities
Tournament History
- The Dow Championship (formerly Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational) is the LPGA’s signature team event, first played in 2019.
- Past champions include:
- Celine Boutier & Yuka Saso
- Jennifer Kupcho & Lizette Salas
- Ariya & Moriya Jutanugarn
- Winning scores typically range from -18 to -24, depending on weather.
Key Teams & Recent Form
Below are the headline teams, their form, and matchup notes.
Team 1: Nelly Korda & Megan Khang
- Recent Form:
- Korda: Win, T3, T7
- Khang: T10, T14, T6
- Strengths:
- Korda’s elite ball‑striking + Khang’s accuracy
- Why They Fit:
- Perfect complementary skill sets
- Outlook: Clear favorites
Team 2: Jin Young Ko & Hyo Joo Kim
- Recent Form:
- Ko: T5, T12, T8
- Kim: T7, T4, T15
- Strengths:
- Precision iron play
- Calm, consistent temperament
- Why They Fit:
- Ideal for alternate shot
- Outlook: Strong top‑5 threat
Team 3: Rose Zhang & Andrea Lee
- Recent Form:
- Zhang: T2, T9, T11
- Lee: T18, T22, T10
- Strengths:
- Stanford chemistry
- Elite putting from Zhang
- Why They Fit:
- High ceiling in Four‑ball
- Outlook: Dangerous if they start hot
Team 4: Brooke Henderson & Alena Sharp
- Recent Form:
- Henderson: T6, T20, T4
- Sharp: T30, T25, T18
- Strengths:
- Henderson’s power + Sharp’s consistency
- Why They Fit:
- Canadian duo with strong history in team formats
- Outlook: Sleeper contenders
Team 5: Atthaya Thitikul & Patty Tavatanakit
- Recent Form:
- Thitikul: T8, T5, T3
- Tavatanakit: T12, T7, T2
- Strengths:
- Explosive scoring potential
- Why They Fit:
- One of the most talented pairings in the field
- Outlook: High‑variance, high‑reward team
Key Team Matchups
Korda/Khang vs Ko/Kim
- Korda’s firepower vs Ko’s precision
- Khang’s accuracy gives slight edge Advantage: Korda/Khang
Zhang/Lee vs Thitikul/Tavatanakit
- Zhang/Lee more consistent
- Thai duo more explosive Advantage: Even
Henderson/Sharp vs Any Top Team
- Henderson can carry the team
- Sharp must hold steady in alternate shot Advantage: Opponent (slight)
Betting Trends
Course Trends
- Four‑ball rounds produce extremely low scores
- Foursomes separate elite teams from average ones
- Teams with strong approach play dominate at Midland
Player Trends
- Korda has gained strokes on approach in 8 straight events
- Ko has finished top‑15 in 6 of last 7
- Thitikul has gained strokes putting in 5 straight
- Zhang has three top‑10s in her last four starts
Weather Trends
- Morning waves typically score better in Four‑ball
- Windier Friday favors accurate teams (Ko/Kim, Khang/Korda)
Final Tournament Outlook
The 2026 Dow Championship sets up as a ball‑striker’s team event, rewarding precision, chemistry, and elite approach play. With ideal weather and firming conditions, expect a winning score around -20 to -23. Korda/Khang enter as the clear favorites, but Ko/Kim and Zhang/Lee are poised to challenge. The Thai duo (Thitikul/Tavatanakit) offers the highest upside if they catch fire.
