Hyejin Choi to Compete in the Meijer Classic on the LPGA Tour
Top 5 Finishes in Last Two Tournaments Signal Rapid Rise
Top 3 Players Korda, Thitikul, and Lydia Ko Absent
Hyejin Choi will once again challenge for her first victory on the LPGA Tour.
The Meijer Classic, with a total prize fund of $3 million, will take place over four days starting June 12 (local time) at Blythefield Country Club (par 72, 6,611 yards) in Belmont, Michigan, USA. This tournament is held just before the major KPMG Women's PGA Championship, so several top players will not participate. World No. 1 Nelly Korda (USA), No. 2 Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand), and No. 3 Lydia Ko (New Zealand) are all absent. Among the participants, the highest-ranked player in the world is No. 5, Hae Ran Ryu.
Hyejin Choi debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2022 after collecting 12 wins on the KLPGA Tour. She has yet to claim a victory on the American stage, but among Korean players, she is in strong form. She finished in the top 10 in 3 out of her last 5 tournaments. In her most recent 2 tournaments, she placed in the top 5 in both, showing consistent performance. Two weeks ago, at the major US Women's Open, she tied for fourth place.
This year, Hyejin Choi has improved her shot accuracy. Her fairway hit rate is 76.68% (24th), and her greens in regulation rate is 73.68% (18th). Her average putts per green in regulation is 1.75 (13th). If she can maintain her composure, this could be a golden opportunity for her to reach the top of the LPGA Tour.
Korean players have combined for 3 victories in the 14 tournaments held so far this year. Kim A Lim won the season opener, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, in February, and Kim Hyo Joo claimed the Ford Championship in March. Hae Ran Ryu collected the trophy at the newly established Black Desert Championship last month.
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