Tag: 2024 Meijer LPGA Classic

‘This is the most meaningful win’: Lilia Vu outlasts Lexi Thompson, Grace Kim in overtime at Meijer LPGA Classic

Vu’s extra time off seems to have paid off handsomely.

Lilia Vu took some extra time returning from a lingering back injury, skipping a second major championship, and it seems to have paid off handsomely.

The former No. 1 started the day eight shots back and survived a three-hole playoff at the Meijer LPGA Classic against former champion Lexi Thompson and overnight leader Grace Kim to win in her first start since late March.

“I think this is the most meaningful win,” said Vu, “because there was a time two months ago where I was just crying on the range not being sure if I would every play a tournament again without pain.”

Thompson, who announced that she’s stepping away from a full-time competitive schedule at the end of this season, was vying to win on the LPGA for the first time in five years during what’s become a farewell tour.

Vu posted a closing 65, the day’s best round, to take the clubhouse lead at 16 under. As a number of players struggled down the stretch, Thompson nearly pitched in for eagle on par-5 18th to win it outright. Instead, she finished knotted with Vu after a final-round 68.

“It was looking good the whole way,” said Thompson of the pitch. “Honestly I probably would’ve putted it if that sprinkler wasn’t in my way, but I guess I’m kind of happy I didn’t putt it because I don’t think I would’ve putted it that close.”

Kim, who suffered a tough loss earlier this year at the JM Eagle LA Championship after enjoying a big lead, saw her five-stroke advantage in Michigan disappear in four holes. Still, the Aussie battled to keep in it and make it a three-way playoff at Blythefield Country Club, where fans were out in droves.

The trio went back to the 18th twice, making one clutch birdie putt after another. For the third playoff hole, the group went to the par-5 fourth.

It was there that Vu separated herself, getting up and down for birdie from a greenside bunker to claim her first title in 2024. The former UCLA standout won four times last season, including two majors, but has been riddled with injury this season, unable to to defend at the Chevron Championship.

“I think the breaking point, tipping point was Chevron,” said Vu. “Not being able to compete there really killed me. I feel like I thought I was taking the steps in the right direction, but I’m glad that I was able to take a couple months off and reevaluate my body, let it recover, do what I needed to do to get back out here again.

“And we did the right thing and took two months off. I think it hurt me not to play competitive golf because I literally live for competitive golf, but we did the right thing and that’s why I’m here today.”

Thompson called her 29 on the front nine Saturday one of the best stretches she’s had on the golf course. The 29-year-old shot 65 in the third round and came into Sunday five shots back. With a new caddie on the bag and a return to a conventional putting grip, Thompson looked lighter inside the ropes as she drained over 100 feet of putts in the third round.

On Sunday, she made a number of clutch putts late in the day.

“It was an amazing day out there,” said Thompson. “You know, the golf is one thing, but just to be able to play in front of all amazing fans, especially coming down the stretch and on the playoff holes.

“I don’t think I’ve heard cheers like that unless it’s like Solheim Cup, which is just an amazing feeling. I got chills every time.”

Kim said she tried to channel the extra nerves into good energy as much as she could. The 23-year-old is already looking to ahead.

“I think going the three playoff holes with the Player of the Year last year, two major champions and obviously Lexi just being an icon for women’s golf says a lot about my game I guess,” said Kim.

“Obviously didn’t get it done. Yeah, it sucks, but I think I can see myself I guess in the future as well. Just how much I’ve grown as well. It’s only my second year out, and to be in this position it’s, as you can tell, overwhelming.”

Vu earned $450,000 for the win.

Meijer LPGA Classic 2024 prize money payouts for all the LPGA golfers at Blythefield Country Club

Vu earned $450,000 out of the $3 million purse.

Lilia Vu started the day eight strokes back at the Meijer LPGA Classic and stormed her way into the winner’s circle. The 2023 LPGA Player of the Year collected her first victory of the season in her first start in more than two months.

The former No. 1, who has been struggling with a back injury all season, earned $450,000 for her efforts. She now has $558,825 this season and $4,983,897 in her career.

Lexi Thompson and Grace Kim, who took a share of second after coming up short in a three-way playoff, earned $234,649.

With $3 million up for grabs, check out how much money each LPGA player earned this week at the 2024 ShopRite LPGA Classic:

Pos. Golfer Score Earnings
1 Lilia Vu -16* $450,000
T2 Lexi Thompson -16 $234,649
T2 Grace Kim -16 $234,649
4 Ally Ewing -15 $152,634
T5 Allisen Corpuz -14 $111,685
T5 Narin An -14 $111,685
7 Kristen Gillman -13 $84,136
T8 Ayaka Furue -12 $64,032
T8 Atthaya Thitikul -12 $64,032
T8 Ryann O’Toole -12 $64,032
T8 Alison Lee -12 $64,032
T12 Yu Jin Sung -11 $46,162
T12 Georgia Hall -11 $46,162
T12 Paula Reto -11 $46,162
T12 Natthakritta Vongtaveelap -11 $46,162
T12 Anna Nordqvist -11 $46,162
T17 Hira Naveed -10 $33,803
T17 Lauren Hartlage -10 $33,803
T17 Gabriela Ruffels -10 $33,803
T17 Nanna Koerstz Madsen -10 $33,803
T17 Carlota Ciganda -10 $33,803
T17 Nataliya Guseva -10 $33,803
T17 Aditi Ashok -10 $33,803
T17 Alexa Pano -10 $33,803
T25 Ariya Jutanugarn -9 $26,358
T25 Marina Alex -9 $26,358
T25 Jin Hee Im -9 $26,358
T25 Jing Yan -9 $26,358
T25 Yuna Nishimura -9 $26,358
T30 Sarah Schmelzel -8 $22,039
T30 Maria Fassi -8 $22,039
T30 Jiwon Jeon -8 $22,039
T30 Lizette Salas -8 $22,039
T34 Mao Saigo -7 $18,689
T34 In Kyung Kim -7 $18,689
T34 Jeongeun Lee6 -7 $18,689
T34 Brooke M. Henderson -7 $18,689
T38 Xiaowen Yin -6 $16,132
T38 Chanettee Wannasaen -6 $16,132
T38 Jeongeun Lee5 -6 $16,132
T41 Yealimi Noh -5 $12,992
T41 Caroline Masson -5 $12,992
T41 Roberta Liti -5 $12,992
T41 Angela Stanford -5 $12,992
T41 Eun-Hee Ji -5 $12,992
T41 Caroline Inglis -5 $12,992
T41 Hinako Shibuno -5 $12,992
T41 Jaravee Boonchant -5 $12,992
T49 Laura Wearn -4 $10,312
T49 Arpichaya Yubol -4 $10,312
T49 Madelene Sagstrom -4 $10,312
T49 Weiwei Zhang -4 $10,312
T53 Azahara Munoz -3 $8,356
T53 Auston Kim -3 $8,356
T53 Celine Boutier -3 $8,356
T53 Stephanie Meadow -3 $8,356
T53 Lindsey Weaver-Wright -3 $8,356
T53 Ssu-Chia Cheng -3 $8,356
T53 Jennifer Kupcho -3 $8,356
T53 Laetitia Beck -3 $8,356
T53 Lindy Duncan -3 $8,356
T62 Malia Nam -2 $6,999
T62 Jennifer Chang -2 $6,999
T62 Bianca Pagdanganan -2 $6,999
T65 Leona Maguire -1 $6,477
T65 Hye-Jin Choi -1 $6,477
T65 Wei-Ling Hsu -1 $6,477
T65 Morgane Metraux -1 $6,477
T69 Moriya Jutanugarn E $5,938
T69 Ruixin Liu E $5,938
T69 Muni He E $5,938
T69 Brittany Lincicome E $5,938
T73 Kelly Tan 1 $5,625
T73 Ashleigh Buhai 1 $5,625
T73 Daniela Darquea 1 $5,625
T73 Keera Foocharoen 1 $5,625
T77 Peiyun Chien 2 $5,380
T77 Mi Hyang Lee 2 $5,380
T77 Hee Young Park 2 $5,380
T80 Alena Sharp 6 $5,209
T80 Isabella Fierro 6 $5,209

 

Playing with a ‘weight lifted off,’ LPGA star Lexi Thompson says Saturday’s round was one of her best ever

“It’s definitely up there. One of my best stretches I think I’ve had on the golf course.”

Lexi Thompson has been playing full-time on the LPGA since 2014, and she’s racked up 15 professional wins including a major; the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

But on Saturday at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Michigan, en route to a 65 that got her within striking distance of the leaders, Thompson said golf was as fun as it can be.

Just weeks after announcing this will be her final season on the LPGA, Thompson used an eagle on the eighth hole to pull into a tie for third at 12 under after 54 holes. She’s tied with Anna Nordqvist and Allisen Corpuz, and trailing leaders Grace Kim and Ally Ewing.

Thompson went 7 under in a six-hole stretch right before the turn, marking one of the best grooves of her professional career.

Lexi Thompson of the United States plays a shot on the first hole during the third round of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give at Blythefield Country Club on June 15, 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images)

“It’s definitely up there. One of my best stretches I think I’ve had on the golf course,” she said. “Just the golf is one thing, but just how I felt out there, very comfortable and relaxed, just enjoyed being out there. I think that’s what this week really brings, just the atmosphere, and I think we all do enjoy coming back and playing here in Grand Rapids.”

Photos: LPGA star Lexi Thompson, who will retire at 29, through the years

Even though she’s still eight months from her 30th birthday, Thompson was the youngest winner on the LPGA when she captured the Navistar LPGA Classic at just 16 years old in 2011. She admitted she’s playing with less pressure after announcing her upcoming retirement.

“Definitely a weight lifted off because it’s something that’s been on my mind for a bit. There is a lot of golf to be played and the rest of the year and I’m really looking forward to every time I tee it up, especially if we get crowds like this every week,” she said. “There is nothing like it. The fans make the game. That’s why I’ve loved every bit of being out here every single year. So it’s a bit of a relief, but I want to finish this year strong.”

When the golf comes as easy as it did Saturday does it make her want to reconsider? Thompson laughed when asked that question.

“Rounds like this make it harder, that’s for sure,” she said. “But I mean, I love the game. It’s just an up and down sport as everybody knows.”

Ally Ewing, Grace Kim tied for lead while Nelly Korda missed the cut at 2024 Meijer LPGA Classic

Ewing shot 63 on Friday, while Kim posted a 65.

The third women’s major of the year is next week at Sahalee Country Club, but before the ladies make their way to the Seattle area for the KPMG Women’s PGA, this week brings the 2024 Meijer LPGA Classic.

As the Meijer heads to the weekend, Ally Ewing and Grace Kim share the lead at 11 under at Blythfield Country Club in Belmont, Michigan.

Ewing shot 63 on Friday, her bogey-free round marked by seven birdies and an eagle. Ewing had a 66 on Sunday at the U.S. Women’s Open two weeks ago to forge a tie for third.

Kim has opened 68-65 and has 10 birdies and two eagles with just three bogeys so far. She’ll try to avoid a repeat of the JM Eagle LA Championship six weeks ago where she led after 36 holes but shot 76-77 over the weekend.

“You know you’re in a good position when you’re in contention and playing in the last few groups on the weekend so making sure that take that in, don’t get too nervous,” she said. “I know the nerves will be there, but I guess that’s normal. Like that’s what you get for being good at golf. Everyone will be nervous, and I think the leaderboard is quite stacked, so, yeah, just got to play your own game.”

2024 Meijer LPGA Classic
Grace Kim acknowledges the crowd after a putt on the eighth green during the second round of the 2024 Meijer LPGA Classic at Blythefield Country Club. (Photo: Raj Mehta/Getty Images)

Lilia Vu, who is making her first start since the Ford Championship 10 weeks ago, followed up her first-round 69 with a 70 and is 2 under.

Nelly Korda misses second straight cut

There was a field of 144 to start the week but among the notables who won’t play the weekend are Nelly Korda, whose Friday 67 wasn’t enough to overcome her Thursday 76. She finished 1 under and missed the cut by two shots.

In a season where she has won six times – including four in a row – Korda has now missed two straight cuts. She failed to make the weekend at the U.S. Women’s Open two weeks ago. Korda won the 2021 KPMG, the first of her two major titles.

Nelly Korda, winner of six events this season, reveals her proudest moment of 2024 … and it might surprise

Nelly is going for her seventh win.

Nelly Korda, a six-time winner on tour this season, says she was never more proud of herself this season than the U.S. Women’s Open. That might sound strange, given that she made a 10 on a par 3 and didn’t play the weekend.

But Korda is wise enough to see past the score.

“I’m not going to say that I was happy with the way I played,” she said. “I was happy with the way I fought. I fought really, really, hard to make the cut.”

This week, Korda comes back to the Meijer LPGA Classic, a place where she’s had great success, winning in 2021 and coming up short in a playoff the following year. Michigan’s Grand Rapids area is one of her favorite stops on tour, and it’s where she hit the reset button three years ago after a devastating missed cut at the U.S. Women’s Open at Olympic Club.

Korda went on to win the Meijer that week, followed by the KPMG Women’s PGA the next and Olympic gold later that summer in Japan.

“I just told myself, like, I’m doing what I love for a living,” she said of her mindset going into the 2021 Meijer. “Like, I’m going to amazing places, playing in front of amazing crowds. There is no point to be miserable out there. Go out and have fun. Even if you’re not playing well.

“Sometimes you have to build a bridge and get over it.”

2023 Meijer LPGA Classic
Leona Maguire hoists the 2023 Meijer LPGA Classic trophy at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Michigan. (Photo: Cody Scanlan/Holland Sentinel)

On Thursday, Korda will be paired with a couple of other past champions at the Meijer, 2023 winner Leona Maguire and two-time champ Brooke Henderson. Maguire calls the Meijer the unofficial start of summer for the LPGA and relishes the Irish vibes of the Midwest.

“I think a lot of people associate Irish golf with links golf, primarily around the coast and things like that,” said Maguire, “but actually a lot of Irish golf courses are like this – a lot of trees, very green. That’s mainly because of a lot of the rain we get. I grew up playing courses like that more than links golf.

“And I think just the people as well, the friendly atmosphere around I think the midwest is a little bit more similar to the Irish mentality in that way.”

Korda enjoys the aggressive nature of Blythefield Country Club, where the par 5s are reachable with irons for the World No. 1, and there’s a potential birdie around every corner. The narrow fairways call for precise driving, which is typically a strength for the 14-time winner. The crowds are typically strong, too.

Korda took a week off after the U.S. Women’s Open, skipping last week’s ShopRite event. She decompressed for a few days, took her mind off the game, and then went back to work.

When asked whether a bump in the road like Lancaster makes her even more motivated for the rest of 2024, Korda’s response revealed much about her mature outlook.

“Yeah, I mean, I love when golf humbles me. Not to that extent,” she said with a smile, “but I do love when golf humbles me. Sometimes you ride the highs, but it’s always, in a sense, nice to know where you can improve, too.”

Lilia Vu returns to action at this week’s Meijer LPGA Classic focused on lower-belly breathing

“I kind of had to reevaluate my game and how my body moves,” Vu said.

Lilia Vu is more focused on her breathing this week than her ball-flight. The world No. 2 returns to action at the Meijer LPGA Classic in Belmont, Michigan, her first start since a recurring back injury forced her to withdraw prior to the start of the Chevron Championship in April.

Vu, 26, won four times last year, including two majors, but has been hampered most of 2024 by injury. Wednesday’s pro-am at the Meijer will be her first 18-hole round since taking a near two-month break from the tour.

“Definitely been a process,” said Vu during a pre-tournament press conference. “I kind of had to reevaluate my game and how my body moves. I think that was the most important thing, and it was kind of the best time to kind of work on my stability and compensation. Worked really hard over the past couple weeks getting that ready.”

This marks the 10th edition of the Meijer, which features a $3-million purse and five past champions in the field, including world No. 1 Nelly Korda, two-time winner Brooke Henderson, Leona Maguire, Jennifer Kupcho and Lexi Thompson.

“I think this course requires a different mentality than just about every single week on tour, which is really fun,” said Henderson of Blythefield Country Club.

 “You’re chasing birdies right from the start, especially on Sunday. If you want to move up the leaderboard or keep your position, then you know that you have to go low.”

Brooke Henderson of Canada holds the winner’s trophy after winning the Meijer LPGA Classic at Blythefield Country Club on June 16, 2019 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Vu hasn’t seen much of Blythefield, playing the tournament once, two years ago, when she tied for 12th.

During her time off, Vu didn’t change anything technical about her swing, but she has grown more conscious about the way she sits, stands, lies down and breathes, calling it lower-belly breathing.

“I know my patterns,” she said. “I don’t want to get so technical with it because it’s just going to bore everybody. I escape on my right hip, and so trying to breathe through that hip more. Little stuff like that.”

Vu said her team has been trying to get her to make small adjustments for some time now, but because she was playing so well last year, she was hesitant to do so. This, she said, was the perfect time to get to work.

Before hitting any shots, Vu goes through an activation warmup. Going through that routine and being conscious of how her body feels, she said, is more valuable right now than seeing the ball-flight she wants or the ideal distance.

It’s still a daily process.

“Just because I’ve been kind of living in that compensation for a while, so it adds up,” she said. “Then one day, I’m tight and my body is angry, and it blows up.

“So it’s peeling the layers of the onion and getting more stable overall to help me swing with no pain.”