MAINEVILLE, Ohio − A $2 million purse is up for grabs between some of the LPGA’s top golfers this week at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G.
This year’s field is the “deepest and strongest it’s ever been,” according to Tournament Director Emily Norell as the event moves to TPC River’s Bend in Maineville.
The Arnold Palmer-designed course is a 6,700-yard, par-72 course that opened in 2001. Over the last 23 years, the venue has been home to the PGA Tour (Kroger Classic), Korn Ferry Tour (Chiquita Classic) and the Epson Tour (Prasco Charity Championship).
The LPGA enters the fold this week with top players like World No. 1 Nelly Korda and reigning champion Minjee Lee looking to conquer a few obstacles the course presents.
Kroger Queen City Championship: Field | Scoreboard
Golfers have to hone in on yardages
Accuracy is obviously going to be a key factor any time you step on the golf course. At TPC River’s Bend, making sure yardages are exact will be paramount for golfers looking to climb the leaderboard.
“The greens are a little smaller and the greens do have, on the front nine, a little bit more undulation (rises and dips in elevation),” said Korda, who is making her Cincinnati debut after collecting six LPGA Tour titles this year.
Mapping out the key areas to land on the green will be critical due to those rises and dips. Golfers will need find small targets and commit to their line.
More: Here’s what to watch for in the LPGA’s Kroger Queen City Championship
“It seems like a ball-strikers’ course. Greens are very sloped, equally quick and you really need to know where to place the ball,” Rose Zhang said. “Utilizing the slopes to certain pin locations, that I’m sure the officials are going to be placing, makes for more creativity when you’re out there.”
Christina Kim of the United States looks on during the first round of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G 2024 at TPC River’s Bend on September 19, 2024 in Maineville, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
‘Birdie chances out there’ for long hitters
Korda noted that she could tell it’s been a dry summer in Cincinnati and the grounds crew has spent plenty of time watering the course. That will make the ground softer in the mornings and firmer in the afternoons.
Korda leads the LPGA Tour in numerous statistical categories and is the only player gaining at least a half stroke per round this season on shots off the tee,…
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