The event is new, but the course and host city are not, Cincinnati home to the LPGA Championship from 1978 to 1989 and host club, Kenwood Country Club, site of the 1963 U.S. Women’s Open.

This week’s tournament is the first time the LPGA will play a non-major event in Cincinnati though, as is the case most weeks, a strong field will be in attendance.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Inaugural event

COURSE: Kenwood Country Club has two 18 hole courses with the more highly regarded Kendale layout used for tournament play.

While a composite course hosted the U.S. Women’s Open in 1963 there have been some significant changes made to the property since courtesy of an expanding road network.

The site of the course was selected by Donald Ross in the 1920’s but the design was undertaken by little known architect Bill Diddel.

In 2019 the course underwent more large scale changes at the hands of the Fry/Straka team with the work seeming to meet with broad approval.

RIGHT: Lexi Thompson has been knocking on the door repeatedly this year and is a good fit for this week's venue. PHOTO: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images.

According to reports, 1,000 trees were removed from the property with bunkers reworked and fairways widened on most holes.

Like so many Golden Age courses, trees had encroached on many of the playing corridors and fairways had narrowed as a result meaning a more one-dimensional test for players.

Members will no doubt be keen to see how the new look, more open layout stands up to the calibre of field on display this week with all reports indicating the golf should be interesting.

PRIZEMONEY: US$1,750,000

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Images and video suggest a course not completely dissimilar to the Pine Needles layout where Minjee Lee won the U.S. Women’s Open this year and despite less than stellar form recently this should be to her liking.

Lee has been at her best in the bigger events this year but with the lure of the World No.1 ranking, expect a big finish to the season.

The course should also suit the in-form Lexi Thompson whose Sunday struggles last week were more a blip than a pattern.

The American looked at her powerful best in the third round at the Dana Open and will be comfortable with the width on offer this week.

Thompson is too good a player not to have won since 2019 and it is difficult to believe she will remain winless at the end of this year.

Of the rest Hannah Green also found something last week it seems, her middle two rounds of 62-66 hinting at a game trending in the right direction.

Five of her last eight rounds have been in the 60’s – including the final three rounds last week – and that trend could well continue this week.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Hannah Green, Minjee Lee, Sarah Kemp, Sarah Jane Smith and Karis Davidson.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Friday (Fox Sports 503 6am – 9am)
Round 2: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 6am – 9am)
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 4am – 7am)
Round 4: Monday (Fox Sports 503 4am – 7am)
*AEST, check local guides