via Imago
Image Courtesy: Grace Kim, Instagram
via Imago
Image Courtesy: Grace Kim, Instagram
The LPGA Tour returns to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Meijer LPGA Classic at the Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Michigan. The event started with 144 top players, including 14-time LPGA Tour winner Nelly Korda, 2-time major winner Minjee Lee, and world no. 2 Lilia Vu, making a return after withdrawing from the U.S. Women’s Open.
Unfortunately, Korda and Lee missed the cut for the Meijer LPGA Classic and are out of the race. The prize money this year has seen a $500,000 increase from last year’s purse. This year, the Meijer LPGA Classic will award the winner $450,000 from the $3 million prize purse, which was $2.5 million last year.
The prize purse of the Meijer LPGA Classic is the highest among the nonmajor events on the LPGA Tour, as the women’s circuit aims to elevate the purses to grow the game. Other than the hefty check, the players on the field at Blythefield CC will also be fighting for the 500 Race to CME points for better standings and to qualify for the season-ending event.
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The proper prize money breakdown is as follows:
| 1st | $450,000 |
| 2nd | $282,976 |
| 3rd | $205,279 |
| 4th | $158,799 |
| 5th | $127,816 |
| 6th | $104,576 |
| 7th | $87,534 |
| 8th | $76,690 |
| 9th | $76,690 |
| 10th | $68,944 |
| 11th | $58,097 |
| 12th | $54,223 |
| 13th | $50,815 |
| 14th | $47,717 |
| 15th | $44,928 |
| 16th | $42,449 |
| 17th | $40,282 |
| 18th | $38,422 |
| 19th | $36,873 |
| 20th | $35,633 |
| 21st | $34,395 |
| 22nd | $33,154 |
| 23rd | $31,916 |
| 24th | $30,675 |
| 25th | $29,592 |
| 26th | $28,508 |
| 27th | $27,421 |
| 28th | $26,337 |
| 29th | $25,253 |
| 30th | $24,324 |
| 31st | $23,394 |
| 32nd | $22,464 |
| 33rd | $21,534 |
| 34th | $20,604 |
| 35th | $19,831 |
| 36th | $19,056 |
| 37th | $18,283 |
| 38th | $17,507 |
| 39th | $16,731 |
| 40th | $16,112 |
| 41st | $15,493 |
| 42nd | $14,874 |
| 43rd | $14,252 |
| 44th | $13,634 |
| 45th | $13,169 |
| 46th | $12,704 |
| 47th | $12,239 |
| 48th | $11,774 |
| 49th | $11,309 |
| 50th | $10,844 |
| 51st | $10,536 |
| 52nd | $10,225 |
| 53rd | $9,914 |
| 54th | $9,606 |
| 55th | $9,295 |
| 56th | $8,984 |
| 57th | $8,676 |
| 58th | $8,365 |
| 59th | $8,058 |
| 60th | $7,747 |
| 61st | $7,593 |
| 62nd | $7,436 |
| 63rd | $7,282 |
| 64th | $7,128 |
| 65th | $6,971 |
With all the stakes and the financial and ranking aspects of the LPGA Tour, the winner can gain another huge incentive after winning the Meijer LPGA Classic. It is nothing but a chance to represent their country at the 2024 Paris Olympics!
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How can the Meijer LPGA Classic aid in Olympic qualifications?
Before the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, golf was played only two times at the Olympic grounds, once in 1900 and again in 1904. More than 100 years later, it returned to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and was contested once again at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021. With the third edition in 100 years, 60 women golfers from all around the world will be given a chance to represent their countries.
via Reuters
Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Golf – Women’s Individual – Medal Ceremony – Kasumigaseki Country Club – Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan – August 7, 2021. Gold medalist Nelly Korda of the United States bites her medal. REUTERS/Toby Melville
The top two players from the top 60 on the Rolex Rankings will be eligible to play in the 2024 Olympics. And a country is allowed to send four golfers if all of them are in the top 15. Given that, the Meijer LPGA Classic is an excellent way to jump inside the top 60 or 15 to secure a berth at the Paris Olympics.
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With the list being finalized after the KMPG PGA Championship, the players have an incredible chance to use the Meijer LPGA Classic to build momentum and continue it through the next major! Who do you think will win in Michigan this Sunday?
