ShopRite LPGA Classic 2026 Betting Tips: All Rhodes lead to Mimi

It’s a Friday start as the LPGA returns to action this week, with the ShopRite LPGA at Seaview’s Bay Course. As the final event before the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club, the players will be looking to fine-tune their preparation in New Jersey.

Our LPGA golf expert Jamie Worsley is back with his long read preview for the tournament. Check out his ShopRite LPGA 2026 Betting Tips below, where he has picked out five players, ranging from 40/1 to a huge 225/1...

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You can bet on the tournament and check out the latest ShopRite LPGA Classic Odds over on betfred.com

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The ShopRite LPGA was first held in 1986, and with the exception of the 1990 and 2020 editions, it has been contested over 54 holes. Meanwhile, Seaview’s Bay Course has served as the exclusive home since 1998.

With three victories apiece, Betsy King (1987, 1995, 2001) and Annika Sorenstam (1998, 2002, 2005) are the most successful players in the tournament’s history. The event has also produced three two-time winners: Julie Inkster (1986, 1988), Stacy Lewis (2012, 2014) and Anna Nordqvist (2015, 2016).

Last five winners:

• 2025

Winner: Jennifer Kupcho (-15)

Runner-up: Ilhee Lee (-14)

• 2024

Winner: Linnea Strom (-14)

Runners-up: Ayaka Furue, Megan Khang (-13)

• 2023

Winner: Ashleigh Buhai (-14)

Runner-up: Hyo Joo Kim (-13)

• 2022

Winner: Brooke Henderson (-12, playoff)

Runner-up: Lindsey Weaver-Wright (-12)

• 2021

Winner: Celine Boutier (-14)

Runners-up: Brooke Henderson, Jin Young Ko, Inbee Park (-13)

Jennifer Kupcho won the fourth LPGA title of her career at Seaview in 2025, overturning a one-shot deficit on 36-hole leader Ilhee Lee thanks to a final-round 66. She returns to defend this week.

THE COURSE

Seaview – Bay Course

• Original architect / Year opened: Donald Ross & Hugh Wilson / 1914
• Notable renovations: Bob Cupp restored the layout back to its original design in 1998 before a further renovation was undertaken by Total Turf in 2014
• Par / Yardage: Par 71 / 6,263 yards
• Hole breakdown:
  • 4x par 3s (121-212 yards)
  • 11x par 4s (301-421 yards)
  • 3x par 5s (477-511 yards)
• Course style: This largely exposed coastal course borders salt marshes and wetlands, with the firm, undulating ground and abundance of pot bunkers giving it a notably links-like feel
• Fairways:
  • The fairways begin reasonably narrow on the front nine before widening on the back
  • With many positioned at an angle to the tee position, those landing areas become even tighter
  • Strategic bunkering alongside three-inch-thick bluegrass/ryegrass/tall fescue rough offers ample protection
• Greens:
  • The open-fronted bentgrass/poa mixed greens are average-to-large in size (6,000 sq. ft.)
  • Rolling at between 11.5-12 on the Stimp, these subtly contoured surfaces could get pretty speedy if weather allows
  • Some steep false fronts coupled with deep pot bunkers guard the perimeter
• Defences: With water in play on just one hole, it’s the wind arriving from the Atlantic that is the biggest defence here
• Average winning score: -13.3 (last 10 54-hole editions)

Home to three gettable par 5s and several par 4s that can be attacked with a drive and a wedge, Seaview’s Bay Course is littered with scoring chances. It’s the shortest course on tour, and it really needs wind to arrive for these well-protected fairways and greens to provide some bite.

THE WEATHER

There are scattered showers around on Wednesday that will bring around 5mm of rain to the course, but it is forecast to be dry, bright and warm thereafter. Friday and Sunday look reasonably calm, though players will have to manage some stronger winds on Saturday, with a constant 12mph breeze accompanied by gusts of around 21mph on the cards.

KEY STATS

SG: Approach / Greens-in-Regulation (GIR)

Seaview usually sees birdies aplenty, which has meant that iron play into these resistant greens has often been the deciding factor.

• 2025
  • Ilhee Lee (2^nd): 8^th in SG: Approach
  • Ayaka Furue (4^th): 16^th in SG: Approach / 5^th in GIR
  • Azahara Munoz (5^th): 3^rd in SG: Approach
  • Miyu Yamashita (5^th): 10^th in SG: Approach / 1^st in GIR
  • Mao Saigo (5^th): 14^th in SG: Approach
• 2024
  • Ayaka Furue (2^nd): 10^th in SG: Approach
  • Megan Khang (2^nd): 16^th in SG: Approach / 11^th in GIR
  • Jeeno Thitikul (4^th): 1^st in SG: Approach / 1^st in GIR
  • Morgane Metraux (5^th): 8^th in SG: Approach / 4^th in GIR
• 2023
  • Ashleigh Buhai (Winner): 4^th in SG: Approach / 3^rd in GIR
  • Hyo Joo Kim (2^nd): 11^th in SG: Approach
  • Dani Holmqvist (4^th): 13^th in SG: Approach
  • Nanna Madsen (4^th): 16^th in SG: Approach
• 2022
  • Brooke Henderson (Winner): 4^th in SG: Approach / 6^th in GIR
  • Lindsey Weaver-Wright (2^nd): 11^th in SG: Approach / 9^th in GIR
  • Jodi Ewart Shadoff (3^rd): 9^th in GIR

SG: Putting (bentgrass/poa)

If you’re not dialled in approach, you almost certainly have to catch fire on the putting surfaces.

• 2025
  • Jennifer Kupcho (Winner): 1^st in SG: Putting
  • Sei Young Kim (3^rd): 4^th in SG: Putting
  • Aline Krauter (5^th): 6^th in SG: Putting
• 2024
  • Ayaka Furue (2^nd): 11^th in SG: Putting
  • Megan Khang (2^nd): 12^th in SG: Putting
  • Morgane Metraux (5^th): 10^th in SG: Putting
• 2023
  • Ashleigh Buhai (Winner): 5^th in SG: Putting
  • Hyo Joo Kim (2^nd): 15^th in SG: Putting
  • Yan Liu (3^rd): 1^st in SG: Putting
  • Nanna Madsen (4^th): 1^st in SG: Putting
  • Dani Holmqvist (4^th): 4^th in SG: Putting
• 2022
  • Lydia Ko (4^th): 1^st in SG: Putting
  • Lindsey Weaver-Wright (2^nd): 18^th in SG: Putting

Birdie-or-Better %

Lastly, with just one day of moderate winds, scoring will likely be decent, and with opportunities across the course, birdie-or-better % could be a simple yet useful stat to focus on.

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES)

Meijer LPGA Classic (Blythefield Country Club)

With its elevated poa/bentgrass greens and penal bluegrass rough, Blythefield Country Club shares many characteristics with this week’s host venue while also presenting a comparable driving challenge.

Notable correlating form:

• Brooke Henderson: ShopRite (1^st, 2^nd) / Meijer (1^st, 1^st)
• Jennifer Kupcho: ShopRite (1^st, 2^nd) / Meijer (1^st)
• Lexi Thompson: ShopRite (1^st) / Meijer (2^nd, 2^nd, 2^nd)
• Anna Nordqvist: ShopRite (1^st, 1^st) / Meijer (4^th, 5^th)
• Celine Boutier: ShopRite (1^st) / Meijer (4^th)
• Annie Park: ShopRite (1^st) / Meijer (7^th)
• Brittany Lincicome: ShopRite (1^st) / Meijer (7^th)
• Haru Nomura: ShopRite (2^nd) / Meijer (4^th)
• Sei Young Kim: ShopRite (3^rd, 4^th) / Meijer (1^st)
• Gerina Mendoza: ShopRite (3^rd, 5^th, 5^th) / Meijer (2^nd)
• Ally Ewing: ShopRite (3^rd) / Meijer (4^th, 6^th)
• Nasa Hataoka: ShopRite (4^th, 6^th) / Meijer (2^nd)
• Nanna Madsen: ShopRite (4^th) / Meijer (4^th)
• Su Oh: ShopRite (5^th, 7^th) / Meijer (2^nd, 4^th)
• Azahara Munoz: ShopRite (5^th) / Meijer (4^th)
• Narin An: ShopRite (6^th) / Meijer (5^th)

Mizuho Americas Open (Liberty National Golf Club)

Designed by 1998 Bay Course renovator Bob Cupp, Liberty National is a fellow New Jersey layout with bentgrass greens, strong bunkering, fescue rough, and an exposed links-like feel.

Notable correlating form:

• Jennifer Kupcho: ShopRite (1^st, 2^nd) / Mizuho (2^nd, 3^rd)
• Celine Boutier: ShopRite (1^st) / Mizuho (2^nd)
• Ashleigh Buhai: ShopRite (1^st) / Mizuho (7^th)
• Ayaka Furue: ShopRite (2^nd, 4^th) / Mizuho (4^th, 7^th)
• Marina Alex: ShopRite (3^rd, 6^th, 8^th) / Mizuho (7^th)
• Jeeno Thitikul: ShopRite (4^th, 6^th) / Mizuho (1^st)

Arkansas Championship (Pinnacle Country Club)

Pinnacle Country Club is among the three shortest venues on tour, and with its bentgrass greens and typically low scoring, the abundance of comp form between these two layouts is no surprise.

Notable correlating form:

• Stacy Lewis: ShopRite (1^st, 1^st) / Arkansas (1^st)
• Anna Nordqvist: ShopRite (1^st, 1^st) / Arkansas (2^nd)
• Linnea Strom: ShopRite (1^st) / Arkansas (2^nd)
• Lexi Thompson: ShopRite (1^st) / Arkansas (3^rd)
• Celine Boutier: ShopRite (1^st) / Arkansas (5^th)
• Hyo Joo Kim: ShopRite (2^nd) / Arkansas (2^nd)
• Sei Young Kim: ShopRite (3^rd, 4^th) / Arkansas (3^rd, 3^rd, 5^th)
• Jenny Shin: ShopRite (3^rd, 6^th) / Arkansas (3^rd, 5^th)
• Ally Ewing: ShopRite (3^rd) / Arkansas (3^rd)
• Nasa Hataoka: ShopRite (4^th, 6^th) / Arkansas (1^st, 1^st)
• Jeeno Thitikul: ShopRite (4^th, 6^th) / Arkansas (1^st)
• Sandra Gal: ShopRite (5^th) / Arkansas (3^rd, 4^th)
• Mao Saigo: ShopRite (5^th) / Arkansas (4^th)
• Jing Yan: ShopRite (5^th) / Arkansas (4^th)

Women’s Open & Women’s Scottish Open

Finally, that linksy style of the Bay Course has led to many British links performers carrying their form over to New Jersey.

Notable correlating form:

• Celine Boutier: ShopRite (1^st) / Scottish (1^st, 2^nd)
• Anna Nordqvist: ShopRite (1^st, 1^st) / Women’s Open (1^st)
• Ashleigh Buhai: ShopRite (1^st) / Women’s Open (1^st)
• I K Kim: ShopRite (1^st) / Women’s Open (1^st)
• Ayaka Furue: ShopRite (2^nd, 4^th) / Scottish (1^st, 3^rd)
• Hyo Joo Kim: ShopRite (2^nd) / Scottish/Women’s Open (2^nd, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th)
• Megan Khang: ShopRite (2^nd) / Scottish/Women’s Open (3^rd, 6^th)
• Jodi Ewart Shadoff: ShopRite (3^rd, 7^th, 8^th) / Women’s Open (2^nd)
• Sei Young Kim: ShopRite (3^rd, 4^th) / Scottish/Women’s Open (3^rd, 4^th, 6^th)
• Jeeno Thitikul: ShopRite (4^th, 6^th) / Scottish (2^nd)
• Nanna Madsen: ShopRite (4^th) / Women’s Open (5^th, 6^th)
• Miyu Yamashita: ShopRite (5^th) / Women’s Open (1^st)
• Azahara Munoz: ShopRite (5^th) / Scottish (2^nd)
• Wei-Ling Hsu: ShopRite (5^th, 6^th) / Women’s Open (6^th)

THE FIELD

No. 7 Charley Hull heads a field that includes five of the world’s top 25 and just nine of the top 50. Hye Jin Choi comes next at No. 15 and is closely followed by Aki Iwai (No. 18), Chizzy Iwai (No. 20), and Jennifer Kupcho (No. 24).

Kupcho is of course the defending champion and is one of eight previous winners in attendance, joined by Linnea Strom (2024), Ashleigh Buhai (2023), Brooke Henderson (2022), Celine Boutier (2021), Annie Park (2018), Anna Nordqvist (2016, 2015), and Brittany Lincicome (2011).

Former top-20 amateurs Rachel Kuehn (No. 4) and Gianna Clemente (No. 18) have each received tournament invites. As has current 18-year-old amateur Mia Hammond, who won the Greater Toledo Classic on the Epson Tour in 2025.

SELECTIONS

Market leaders: Hye Jin Choi 17/2, Charley Hull 11/1, Jennifer Kupcho 14/1, Celine Boutier 14/1, Aki Iwai 16/1, Erika Hara 18/1

1.25 pts Mimi Rhodes each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 40/1

After Lottie Woad won the Kroger Queen City Championship two weeks ago, I wonder if Mimi Rhodes – who has played a lot with Lottie during her amateur career – could be inspired to follow in her compatriot’s footsteps here. She’s enjoyed a positive start to her rookie season, and with her links experience a positive for this test, this weaker field provides her best opportunity yet for a breakthrough win.

Rhodes turned pro towards the end of 2024 and took little time adjusting to the pro ranks, winning three times on the Ladies European Tour last year. She then ended 2025 at LPGA Q-School, where a 24^th-place finish was enough to secure her tour card.

Beginning this campaign by finishing 6^th at the Saudi Ladies International, she carried that form over to her opening couple of LPGA events, placing 10^th at the HSBC Women’s World Championship and 33^rd at the Blue Bay LPGA. She went even better two starts later with a 6^th-place finish at the Ford Championship, though she will have to bounce back from a trio of missed cuts in recent starts.

Rhodes is excelling with the driver this year but is also a solid iron player and putter, ranking around the top 50 in each. She’s making plenty of birdies and as a former 5^th-place finisher in the Women’s Amateur who finished inside the top 20 at last year’s Women’s Open, her links pedigree is a major plus.

1 pt Leona Maguire each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 70/1

Due to the format of this event and lack of depth in the field, few towards the top appeal and I’m going to keep it fairly speculative from here on. I’ve picked some classy but out-of-form individuals who have shown signs of life of late, first of which is Leona Maguire.

Maguire brought in respected coach Sean Foley at the start of the season in an attempt to arrest her slide down the world rankings. Although results have been hit and miss, there have been positives.

She looked sound in East Asia over the opening events of the season, ending that swing with an 18^th-place finish at the Blue Bay LPGA. A runner-up finish at the Aramco Championship in Vegas was another step in the right direction and though she missed three cuts on the spin to follow that, a 33^rd-place finish at the Kroger Queen City Championship two weeks ago offers further promise.

Her long game looked tidy there and I was particularly encouraged by her improved approach play, ranking 22^nd. In addition, the putter has been typically sound all season, ranking 16^th in SG: Putting.

Maguire has teed it up here four times and recorded two top-25s, finishing 15^th in 2018 and 24^th in 2020. One victory (2023) and two runner-up finishes at the Meijer LPGA Classic strengthen her case and, as an excellent links proponent – winning the 2017 Women’s Amateur and finishing 4^th at the 2022 Women’s Open – this looks a perfect setup for her to challenge.

0.75 pts Frida Kinhult each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 90/1

With various injury/health concerns and a global pandemic hindering her development, it hasn’t gone exactly to plan for the talented Frida Kinhult since she turned pro in 2019. However, things are starting to look up this year, and she represents an attractive price to make additional progress in New Jersey.

Kinhult has missed half of her eight cuts this year, though has also produced two of her standout LPGA performances across the other four appearances. A 6^th-place finish at the Ford Championship at the end of March rates as her second-best effort at this level and following a couple of missed cuts, she finished 12^th at the Kroger Queen City Championship on her latest start.

Her iron play has been inconsistent but occasionally top-class, as she ranked 2^nd at the Ford Championship and 22^nd last time out. She’s driven it reasonably well all season, whilst she was also much sharper on the greens in Ohio a fortnight ago.

Having opened with rounds of 66 and 67, Kinhult took the solo lead into the final round of the ShopRite LPGA on debut in 2022. A closing 75 dropped her to 17^th and she has done little in subsequent starts. That said, currently playing some of her best golf at this level, she’s worth chancing at the price.

0.75 pts Lilia Vu each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 125/1

As a five-time LPGA winner with two majors in the cabinet, it doesn’t take much encouragement to tempt me into backing Lilia Vu at these odds in a field like this. Encouragement is exactly what we got from her at the Kroger Queen City Championship and if she can build on that, her number could look huge by Sunday evening.

Vu has been held back by lingering injury problems for the last two years and there has been little light at the end of the tunnel for much of 2026. She did play ok when 43^rd at the JM Eagle LA Championship four starts ago and there was plenty to like about her performance at the Kroger Queen, as she fired rounds of 66 and 67 on her way to finishing 33^rd.

The most promising aspect of her performance there was the sharper approach display, ranking 21^st. This is an area in which she’s regressed in the last couple of years having initially been a key component of her game, and I’m counting on her maintaining that in New Jersey.

Vu missed the cut on her only previous visit here in 2019, but that came right at the beginning of her pro career. She’s a former winner of the Meijer LPGA Classic (2024) and, having finished 2^nd at the Old Course at St Andrews in the 2024 Women’s Open, she has those links skills that this layout often demands.

0.5 pts Hinako Shibuno each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 225/1

I’m going to take a punt on Hinako Shibuno at triple figures as my final selection. She’s done little of note this season, though does arrive after making each of her last two cuts. Her irons have been solid for most of the campaign and, armed with a decent record at the Bay Course, she’s well placed to outplay her odds.

Last season was a write-off for Shibuno, as she missed 13 cuts and recorded just two top-10s. She failed to make the weekend in four of her first five appearances in 2026 but, as mentioned, she has made her last two thanks to strong approach performances.

She ranks 37^th in SG: Approach season-long and has gained strokes in each of her two latest starts. Her play around the greens has been solid (ranking 9^th), and although the putter makes her a risk, it is a risk I’m happy to take at the odds.

Shibuno has teed it up in this event on four occasions, finishing no worse than 29^th and has fired just one over-par round out of 13. She also finished 3^rd at the 2022 Women’s Open at Muirfield and with many of the top players missing, this major-winning golfer certainly has the class to make a run at the title.

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