Beth Ann Nichols
June 26, 2024 12:42 pm ET
After a taxing week of major championship golf, LPGA players are back in Michigan for the more relaxing atmosphere of partner golf at the Dow Championship. The annual team competition features 72 teams —including a number of blockbuster duos — and takes place beginning Thursday at Midland Country Club.
The first and third rounds will be played in foursomes (alternate shot), and the second and final rounds will be played in a four-ball (best ball) format. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 33 teams and ties. The purse of $3 million will award a first-place team prize of $732,165 ($366,082 each).
There are two past winning teams in the field: Cheyenne Knight/Elizabeth Szokol (2023) and sisters Ariya Jutanugarn/Moriya Jutanugarn (2021).
LPGA members on the winning team will receive the standard two-year winner’s exemption. CME points and prize money will be official for the purposes of the current-year LPGA Official Money List and Race to the CME Globe Standings. Rolex Player of the Year, Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year and U.S. Solheim Cup points will not be allocated and statistics will not be calculated. Rolex Women’s World Rankings Points also will not be allocated.
Here are 15 teams to watch in Midland (with Rolex ranking in parenthesis):
Rose Zhang (9) and Alexa Pano (93)
Rose Zhang and Alexa Pano of team USA pose before the start of the foursomes during the fourballs on day one of the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup at Disneyland Paris on September 24, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)
Zhang and Pano, both winners on the LPGA, grew up together on the AJGA and represented the U.S. together Junior Ryder Cup and Junior Solheim Cup teams. Zhang says they’ve been friends since they were “itty-bitty.”
Brooke Henderson (14) and Lexi Thompson (33)
Lexi Thompson of the United States looks on while playing the 14th hole during the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club on June 21, 2024 in Sammamish, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Two of the LPGA’s most popular players are back together in Midland. Though they combine for 24 LPGA titles, the pair missed the cut last year.
Charley Hull (8) and Georgia Hall (36)
(L-R) Charley Hull of England celebrates with Georgia Hall in the 18th green after winning The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America at Old American Golf Club on October 02, 2022 in The Colony, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Best friends from a young age, Hull and Hall started representing England Golf together more than a decade ago. They’ve also paired together at the Solheim Cup.
Lydia Ko (17) and Danielle Kang (89)
Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Danielle Kang hug on the 18th green after Lydia defeats Danielle by one stroke to win the 2022 Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio Golf Club on January 30, 2022 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Close friends Ko and Kang are together again in Midland. They tied for 22nd as a team in 2021.
Jin Young Ko (3) and Nasa Hataoka (24)
Nasa Hataoka of Japan (R) and Jin Young Ko of Korea (L) look on on the 1st green during the second round of the Cognizant Founders Cup at Upper Montclair Country Club on May 13, 2022 in Clifton, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
While Ko is coming off a share of second at Sahalee, Hataoka missed the weekend as well as a chance to compete at the Paris Olympics. This week might provide a good reset for the Japanese star.
Ruoning Yin (4) and Atthaya Thitikul (12)
Ruoning Yin of China hits a tee shot on the seventh hole during the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club on June 21, 2024 in Sammamish, Washington. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Two of the LPGA’s rising superstars join forces in Michigan. Both Yin and Thitikul have two titles each on the LPGA and have risen to No. 1 in the world.
Celine Boutier (6) and Yuka Saso (10)
(R-L) Yuka Saso of Japan celebrates with Celine Boutier of France on the 18th green during the final round of the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational at Midland Country Club on July 22, 2023 in Midland, Michigan. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
These two top-10 players are back in Midland after taking a share of third last year. Boutier won four times last season, including the Evian, and Saso and won her second U.S. Women’s Open title earlier this month.
Linn Grant (26) and Carlota Ciganda (30)
Carlota Ciganda and Linn Grant of Team Europe line up a putt on the 17th green during Day Two of The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on September 23, 2023 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Ciganda and Grant went 2-0 last year at the Solheim Cup in Spain, teaming up together in four-balls. They’ll do it again in Michigan with more than pride on the line.
Xiyu Lin (15) and Ayaka Furue (20)
Xiyu Lin of China and Ayaka Furue of Japan embrace on the 18th green during the third round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 18, 2023 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
An intriguing first-time pairing of two players who are frequently in the mix. This marks the first appearance in the event for both Lin and Furue.
Amy Yang (5) and Jennifer Song (540)
Amy Yang of South Korea is doused with champagne after winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club on June 23, 2024 in Sammamish, Washington. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Two weeks after Yang won the CME Group Tour Championship last November, she was caddying for good friend Song at LPGA Q-Series. Now they’re teaming up together one week after Yang won her first major.
Ally Ewing (16) and Jennifer Kupcho (50)
(L-R) Ally Ewing of the United States and Jennifer Kupcho of the United States talk as they walk to the 13th tee during the second round of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G at Kenwood Country Club on September 08, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
U.S. captain Stacy Lewis is highly interested to see how this potential Solheim Cup pairing fares this week. Kupcho won this event two years ago with Lizette Salas.
Ryann O'Toole (74) and Lucy Li (125)
Lucy Li of the United States hits an approach shot on the seventh hole during the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club on June 21, 2024 in Sammamish, Washington. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Lewis called this an “oddball” pairing but thought the combination of a longer hitter (O’Toole) with an average hitter (Li) might fare well.
Stacy Lewis (250) and Maria Fassi (186)
Maria Fassi of Mexico walks off the third tee during the first round of the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational at Midland Country Club on July 19, 2023 in Midland, Michigan. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Lewis and Fassi, a couple of Arkansas grads who both won NCAA titles, finished sixth last year in this event. For Fassi, teaming up with her longtime mentor at the Dow has provided a good learning experience over the years.
Mel Reid (251) and Bronte Law (117)
Mel Reid of England looks on during the second round of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give at Blythefield Country Club on June 14, 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images)
Officially known as “British Royal Tee,” the Law/Reid pairing is anything but stuffy. If you haven’t watched these two English friends mic’d up during a Dow practice round, check it out here:
Lauren Hartlage (133) and Maddie Szeryk (324)
Lauren Hartlage of the United States hits a putt on the sixth hole during the final round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club on June 23, 2024 in Sammamish, Washington. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
One week after Hartlage enjoyed the best week of her career at the KPMG, where she played in the final group on Sunday, the former Louisville player tees it up with good friend Szeryk. The pair met at Q-Series a few years back and have been friends since. They finished 25th together at the Dow last year.
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