Click here for the complete field at the 2017 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give.
There’s A New No. 1
Following her victory at last week’s Manulife LPGA Classic, Ariya Jutanugarn arrives in Michigan as the new No. 1 in the Women’s World Golf Rankings. Jutanugarn replaced Lydia Ko after 85 weeks as the world’s top-ranked player and became the second youngest player in LPGA history to hold the top spot. The new No. 1 makes her third start this week in Grand Rapids where she finished tied for 18th in 2016.
After taking three weeks off, a rested and refreshed Lydia Ko returns to action this week in Michigan. Ko is making her third start at the Meijer LPGA Classic where she has played well in her first two starts with a tie for 12th and tie for fourth. Ko is looking to pick up her first win of the year and gain some momentum before heading to Arkansas next week where she looks to defend her title. Ko has six top-10s to start 2017.
No. 4 Lexi Thompson is also in the field this week, returning to Blythefield Country Club where she won in 2015. Last week, Thompson nearly became the first player to win for a second time in 2017, but lost in a playoff to Jutanugarn. The top-ranked American has played consistently well in Michigan where she finished tied for fourth in 2016. No. 5 In Gee Chun is also in the field and was the third member of that playoff last week in Canada. No. 6 Shanshan Feng, No. 7 Inbee Park, No. 8 Sung Hyun Park and No. 9 Sei Young Kim round out the top-10 in the field this week in Michigan.
Welcome Back
Sei Young Kim returns this week to Grand Rapids where she defeated Carlota Ciganda last season in a playoff for her fifth career win on Tour. Kim won again in May at the Lorena Ochoa Match Play, where she held off Ariya Jutanugarn for the win, but her 2017 season has otherwise been up and down. Kim followed up her victory with a tie for fifth at the Kingsmill Championship for her second top-10 of the year, then missed the cut at the LPGA Volvik Championship and withdrew from the ShopRite LPGA Classic following an opening round, 78.
Make It A Double?
With Ariya Jutanugarn capturing the Manulife LPGA Classic, there has still not been a multiple winner in 2017. Besides Jutanugarn, Thompson and Kim, there are seven more winners in 2017 that are in the field this week in Michigan looking to buck the trend and become the first two-time winner this season. Winners include LPGA Volvik champion Shanshan Feng, LOTTE Champion Cristie Kerr, ShopRite LPGA Classic winner In-Kyung Kim, Kia Classic champion Mirim Lee, Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic winner Brittany Lincicome, Volunteers of America Texas Shootout champion Haru Nomura and HSBC Women’s champion Inbee Park.
Know What it Takes
The three former champions of the Meijer LPGA Classic, Mirim Lee, Lexi Thompson and Sei Young Kim, return to Grand Rapids for the Tournament’s fourth edition. IN 2014, Mirim Lee captured the inaugural event by defeating Inbee Park with a birdie on the second playoff hole to capture her first career win on Tour. In 2015, Thompson came from four-strokes back of 54-hole leader Lizette Salas and fired a final round 65 to win by one-stroke for her fifth career win. Last season, Kim made bogey on the 72nd hole to fall into a playoff with Ciganda. Both players found the rough off the tee on the first playoff hole, but Kim was able to get up and down for the win.
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