Best Bets for the 2021 Meijer LPGA Classic

Seeking her third victory at this event, Brooke Henderson strolls into Blythefield Country Club, surrounded by a murky status. The 23-year-old Canadian withdrew last week after a first-round 77. No reason was given for her departure other than her agent stating that it was a non-COVID-related illness.

It’s a busy stretch for the females on the heels of the US Women Open culminating on June 6^th, and the Women’s PGA Championship gets underway on June 24^th. Perhaps Brooke was seeking an extra day of R&R before making the trip to Grand Rapids.

In any case, I’m fading Henderson and heading in a different direction with my top picks for the Meijer LPGA Classic.

Why am I willing to lay -120 that #2 can take down #1? Mainly because of the distinct advantage Park holds over Ko on the greens.

Here’s a golf course that has yielded a winning score of 21-under-par in three consecutive editions. In other words, the benign setup with five par-5s has more or less turned into a putting contest over the weekend.

Any time there’s a premium on putting is a good time to back Inbee.

Settling into a routine in what’s now her second season on tour, it’s only a matter of time until Leona Maguire breaks through on the big stage. Among Maguire’s decorated list of accolades, the 26-year-old Irishwoman spent 135 weeks atop the World Amateur Golf Ranking (most in history).

Leona finished 6^th at Golden Ocala and 2^nd at the Lotte Championship, and she continues to knock on the door after a top-10 at the MEDIHEAL Championship. Maguire led all golfers after 18 holes in Daly City; when it was all said and done, she had registered 20 birdies and an eagle.

Moving onto Sophia Popov, go ahead and cut the German some slack for missing the cut at Olympic Club. Popov was battered by playing seven matches in five days in the Las Vegas heat, where she landed as the runner-up at the Bank of Hope Match Play at Shadow Creek.

For those of you concerned that Popov can’t go low enough to hoist the trophy at this venue, you might need to think again.

The USC product shot 22-under-par during a three-day event on the Cactus Tour last year. That included firing a record 61 (-11)in the opening round.

I’ll round out my Meijer LPGA Classic predictions with my ultimate “pick to click.” Considering how much I’ve been stressing the importance of the flat stick, it seems fitting to conclude with an endorsement for the number-one-ranked putter on the LPGA Tour.

Enter Hannah Green; the 24-year-old Aussie ranked 14^th in the world.

Green is oozing with momentum after closing with 66 on Sunday at Lake Merced to vault into a tie for 3^rd-place. Arriving with five top-15s in her last seven appearances, Hannah last missed a cut some 10 months ago.

Aside from leading all-female golfers in putts per GIR, Green’s name is littered inside the top-10 in a handful of other meaningful statistics.

For what it’s worth, Hannah’s 12^th in par-4 scoring average. She’s the total package.

I’m saying she’s on the verge of picking up her third LPGA title.

Sophia might “pop off.” The upside attached to Leona Maguire is genuine, and I see few versions of Inbee Park not landing on page one of the leaderboard. Ultimately, Hannah Green is my choice to walk away with the crystal.

If you’re looking for Meijer LPGA Classic picks, it’s safe to say that you’re propably betting the US Open. Here are a couple of posts lending insight into my US Open predictions.