When it comes to favorites at this week’s Dow Championship, it’s hard to look past the defending champs: Jeeno Thitikul and Ruoning Yin.
The sixth edition of the popular event features 72 teams competing at Midland Country Club for a $3.3 million purse. Four of the top five players in the world are in the field, with Thitikul (No. 2) and Yin (No. 4) actually paired together. They’re one of three teams who have won it before back together in Michigan, joined by Cheyenne Knight/Elizabeth Szokol (2023) and Ariya/Moriya Jutanugarn (2021).
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World No. 1 Nelly Korda is the only top-five player taking the week off. Fifth-ranked Haeran Ryu has teamed up with Rose Zhang.
Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand and Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand walk to the fifth green during the third round of the Dow Championship at Midland Country Club on June 29, 2024 in Midland, Michigan.
The first and third rounds of the event will be played in the foursomes format (alternate shot), and the second and fourth rounds will be played in the four-ball (best ball) format.
The winning team receives a standard two-year winner’s exemption on the LPGA priority list. Rolex Rankings, Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year points will not be allocated.
Here are five teams to watch:
Ruoning Yin of China and Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand pose on the third hole during the third round of the CME Group Tour Championship 2024 at Tiburon Golf Club on November 23, 2024 in Naples, Florida.
Jeeno Thitikul (No. 2) and Ruoning Yin (No. 4)
Won together in their tournament debut last year. The pair of 22-year-old friends have 10 LPGA titles between them. In 2025, Thitikul has one win and seven top-10 finishes while Yin has three top 10s in 10 starts, including runner-up showings at both the Chevron Championship and Black Desert Championship.
Sisters Akie Iwai and Chisato Iwai of Japan embrace on the 18th green during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer 2025 at Seaview Bay Course on June 06, 2025 in Galloway, New Jersey.
Akie and Chisato Iwai
The Iwai twins look to join the Jutanugarn sisters when it comes Dow team success. Chisato won earlier this season in Mexico at the Riviera Maya Open and has eight titles on the JLPGA. Akie, meanwhile, has six JLPGA titles and a pair of runner-up finishes on the LPGA this season. Akie is currently ranked 25th in the world while Chisato is 27th.
Megan Khang (L) gives a ball to Lexi Thompson as they compete against team Europe on the second day of the 2023 Solheim Cup biennial team golf competition at Finca Cortesin golf club in Casares, on Sepetember 23, 2023.
Megan Khang and Lexi Thompson
A team that first came together at the last minute at the 2023 Solheim Cup, Khang and Thompson went 2-0-0 in foursomes together in Spain. Thompson, now a part-time player on the LPGA, is playing her third week in a row in Midland, coming off two top-12 finishes. She partnered last year with Brooke Henderson and finished T-8.
Jennifer Kupcho of The United States hugs Leona Maguire after winning the tournament in a sudden death match during the final round of the Meijer LPGA Classic at Blythefield Country Club on June 19, 2022 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Jennifer Kupcho and Leona Maguire
A pair of Solheim Cup stalwarts who play on opposite teams will come together at Midland for the first time. Kupcho won the Dow with Lizette Salas in 2022 and finished runner-up last year with Ally Ewing. Kupcho, winner of the 2025 ShopRite LPGA, beat Maguire in a playoff three years ago at the Meijer LPGA Classic . At the 2021 Solheim Cup, Maguire defeated Kupcho in a pivotal singles match that set the tone in an eventual European victory.
Rio Takeda, Sakura Koiwai and Miyu Yamashita of Japan are seen crossing a bridge during the first round of Hisako Higuchi Mitsubishi Electric Ladies Golf Tournament at Musashigaoka Golf Course on October 25, 2024 in Hanno, Saitama, Japan.
Miyu Yamashita and Rio Takeda
Pair of Japanese stars are rookies in name only. Yamashita is a 13-time winner on the JLPGA, while Takeda is a two-time winner on the LPGA and eight-time winner in Japan. The pair combine to have 11 top-10 finishes this season on the LPGA.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Five teams to watch at Dow Championship, including defending champs