There’s one thing that certainly hasn’t changed year after year at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, and that’s the incredible fan turnout. The local community’s support of the LPGA Tour is one of the biggest reasons that players have enjoyed returning to the tournament to compete each season.

However, one thing that has changed this year, a difference of which the players are particularly taking notice, is the change in green speeds around Blythefield Country Club, as the putting surfaces are much firmer than they have been in years past.

“I'm hitting the ball so much further on these greens. It's kind of crazy planning a pitching wedge to release 10 to 15 yards,” Megan Khang said after her round on Saturday. “It's something we've had to trust and something we've been doing a really good job trusting.”

The “we” she is referring to is her caddie, David Taylor, who celebrated his birthday during the third round on Saturday. While he helped his player bounce back from an opening bogey with three straight birdies en route to a round of 69, Khang was sure to show her gratitude by leading a round of “Happy Birthday” for her looper on the 14th hole.

“I joked with my caddie, DT, because it's his birthday today, and I was joking with him that I was putting really good, and then I started to realize I was putting good, and then it kind of stiffened up a little,” Khang joked after her round in which she had 30 putts. “That is definitely something we are going to work on after. For the most part, I just kind of hung in there. Obviously, I got a little frustrated that putts weren't dropping, but that's golf.”

Khang sits three strokes off the lead through 54 holes and says she has been hard at work on her game heading into her eighth appearance at the Meijer LPGA Classic.

After missing the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills, Khang chose not to tee it up at last week’s ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer in order to put in some extra time practicing. Khang was hopeful she’d be able to get her game in a better place ahead of not just this week’s tournament in Michigan but also before competing in the season’s third major next week at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

“Took time, focused on myself, and really tried to focus more so on the ball striking, and paid off this week, and hopefully, carrying that into next week,” Khang said about her game going forward. “Once we kind of match up my speed and lines on the putts, hopefully, it all clicks tomorrow and for the rest of the year.”

Khang will be looking to continue what’s been clicking for her and her game through the first three days of the Meijer LPGA Classic on Sunday, as she’ll have a chance to not only chase down her second career win on the LPGA Tour but also to show her gratitude to all the fans who have turned out to support her and her fellow athletes year after year in Belmont, Mich.

“This tournament has always been one of my favorites. I missed it last year, and I was pretty sad about it. Coming back this year and having the fans be like, we missed you last year and noticed I was away, it definitely feels homey and it's like I never left. They make me feel like I'm from Michigan,” Khang said about returning to the Meijer LPGA Classic. “It's pretty cool to have this environment, but the fans make this tournament great and hopefully give them a good show tomorrow.”

Megan Khang Leads Birthday Sing-Along, Shoots 69

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