Ariya Jutanugarn’s ascent to the top of the professional women’s golf world was finally completed last week.
Her attempt to stay there will be one of the top storylines when the LPGA Tour returns to the Great Lakes State beginning Thursday for the fourth edition of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give.
Jutanugarn, who became the first player, male or female, from Thailand to hold the No. 1 ranking in golf, will be among the stellar field that challenges venerable Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Mich.
She will be joined by seven more of the top 10 players in the Rolex Rankings, including New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, whom Jutanugarn supplanted to rise to the top spot after her playoff win at the Manulife LPGA Classic in Ontario on Sunday.