Why LPGA Pros Love the Meijer LPGA Classic
Three LPGA Tur pros who have returned to the Meijer LPGA Classic no less than five times each, talk about what brings them back to Grand Rapids year after year:
BRITTANY LANG: “It has that feel where we stay for a long time and the community is behind us, and Meijer is amazing.
“First off, it's a great golf course. Then we have the great community feel. They make the players feel welcome, and it's a great town, as well. It's nice to be there. I love it, and I have since day one.”
JESSICA KORDA: “I like the golf course. Like Lang said, the community feel that we get, really the people backing us, I think the crowds pull amazing numbers for us, and alongside Meijer and everything that they do kind of extra outside of the golf course is awesome.
“We like when the crowd gets rowdy, so definitely something that I like going back to, not only the golf course but it's also the atmosphere that the fans bring. They're always ready to show up for us during that week. I think that's a mix of kind of why I love going back for sure.”
MEGAN KHANG: “I can't help but reiterate, but the crowd is super welcoming. I love looking out and seeing the families that come out, bring their kids. I always see that there's like a kids' area there and I joke around how I just want to be a kid again and go in there and play with the kids.”
Moderator question: All past winners of this tournament have either been or gone on to win major titles. What is it about the course that leads the best to rise to the top here?
MEGAN KHANG: “I definitely think that this golf course is definitely a shot maker's golf course. Greens are small. You've got some undulation up there, whether it's a par-3, you can't see the green, or it's some dogleg par-4s that you've got to favor one side of the fairway.
“I think that helps us dial in our fairway and helps tune us up for majors, because more times than not you're going to need to get those wedges dialed in and make those two, three-footers to get the win. I think that definitely helps get your game in the zone for the majors.”
JESSICA KORDA: “Yeah, it's a plotter's golf course, so definitely having a good game plan going in, you can't hit driver everywhere. It's pretty tree-lined, so being on the correct side of the fairway to be able to have a clear shot at the green, that's important. Definitely you've got to think your way around it, and definitely good prep for majors because it is kind of what a major is.”
BRITTANY LANG: “The girls are exactly right. The course does set up like a major in its play; it definitely has a major feel. It's a big event. The community comes together. There's always something going on, on the golf course. It has a big feel. We draw great crowds there, so that's great practice for majors, as well.”
