Michigan Golf Journal January 2021

Pro Golf in Michigan The LPGA Tour made a lot of noise recently announcing its official 2021 schedule, with major growth in sponsorships and the return of some events that were scrubbed off their 2020 schedule due to pandemic spread concerns. With the return of both the Meijer LPGA Classic outside Grand Rapids, and the Dow Great Lakes Invitational in Midland, our state’s dominance in hosting professional golf tour events continues. The PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic will culminate its final round being played on Independence Day, as the event runs June 28-July 4 . Bryson DeChambeau is the defending champion after a tumultuous year which saw his protein shake stock grow to greater heights when he added the U.S. Open title. The Ally Challenge, our PGA Tour Champions event, is set to play its 4 th annual tournament, August 27-29 to determine the 54-hole winner. Jim Furyk came off the regular tour to earn his first Champions Tour event at the 2020 version. Both men’s events last year played without fans in attendance. Award-winning country music group Little Big Town will headline the annual Community Concert on August 28 at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc. The Meijer LPGA Classic returns to its traditional June date (17-20) with a purse of $2.3 million. The popular event consistently draws some of the LPGA Tour’s largest crowds and has raised over $5.2 million to date for restocking food pantry shelves in communities statewide. Brooke Henderson has won the event twice, including the last in 2019. The week of July 14-17 will be the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational at Midland Country Club. The inaugural event took place in 2019, so 2021 will be the second time for the unique two-team format of best ball and alternate shot. Its purse is also $2.3 million, making both Michigan events some of the highest LPGA Tour purses all year, a fact that draws the best players for our golf fans to follow. MGJ 4 Pro Tour Events in Michigan Lock in 2021 Dates By Tom Lang