World leader Nelly Korda is preparing to return to the Dow Championship, marking her first appearance since 2022, with a surprise in her team partner. The golf star announced that she will team up with her close friend Olivia Cowan, a winner on the Ladies European Tour and currently ranked 178th in the world. This unprecedented partnership will be put to the test the week after the U.S. Women’s Open, in an event that promises to deliver great excitement.
In 2022, Nelly Korda played alongside her older sister, Jessica Korda, finishing in eighth place, but this year the dynamic is changing. Jessica Korda, who recently announced her second pregnancy, will not be present to repeat the family partnership. The absence of the veteran opens the door for a new alliance that could surprise fans.
In addition to Korda and Cowan, the Dow Championship features other strong pairings. Lydia Ko will play alongside Danielle Kang, while Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang aim to improve on their performance from last year, when they finished second behind the South Korean duo Somi Lee and Jin Hee Im. The competition promises to be intense and filled with talent.
The legendary Juli Inkster, a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame, returns to the greens to play alongside Angel Yin, who sees the seven-time major winner as a true mentor. Inkster, now 65 years old, last competed in an LPGA tournament at the 2025 Standard Portland Classic, and this return at the Dow Championship promises to be a special moment for fans.
The 2026 edition of the Dow Championship will take place from June 11 to 14 at the Midland Country Club in Michigan, marking the beginning of a two-week cycle in the state that culminates with the Meijer LPGA Classic in Grand Rapids. This event not only brings together the best players in the world but also provides an unmissable spectacle for golf enthusiasts.
It is worth noting that the duo of Cydney Clanton and Jasmine Suwannapura were the winners of the inaugural Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational in 2019, setting the bar for future editions. With such a competitive field, the 2026 Dow Championship promises to redefine alliances and reveal new stars of women’s golf worldwide.
This article first appeared on [Apito Final](https://apitofinal.pt/).
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