DEFENDING CHAMPION: South Korean Sei Young Kim reached 22-under-par 262 last year to defeat American Lexi Thompson by two shots.

COURSE: Highland Meadows Golf Club, located in Sylvania, Ohio, was established in 1925 and was originally designed by Harold Weber. The 5,949-metre par-71 features rolling tree-lined fairways and numerous water hazards – and it has hosted the Marathon Classic since 1989.

PRIZEMONEY: US$1,700,000.

PLAYERS TO WATCH …

Former World No.1 Lydia Ko won here in 2014 and 2016 and appears to be working well with new coach Sean Foley, despite last week’s mixed results, which saw her post rounds of 69, 80 and 71 to share 28th place.

The 23-year-old Kiwi hasn’t finished higher than that since October last year - and she hasn’t finished inside the top-10 for over 12 months.

But Ko clearly enjoys the layout at Highland Meadows. The 15-time Tour winner, whose last victory came in 2018 at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship, returns to the Ohio-based club for the first time since 2017. She has never finished outside the top-20 in her five starts.

RIGHT: Ten-time Tour winner Sei Young Kim claimed her ninth career title here last year. PHOTO: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images.

Perth product Minjee Lee was terrific at Inverness Club last week, firing rounds of 69, 73 and 70 to finish in third place. Clearly the five-month coronavirus hiatus hasn’t had any effect on her incredible consistency.

In fact, Lee has recorded 22 top-25s from her last 29 starts. The World No.8 also plays fairly well at Highland Meadows, sharing 19th place last year and 22nd in her only other appearance in 2015.

The 24-year-old will be searching for her sixth career title this week and could also bank her 50th career top-10 finish.

72-HOLE RECORD: South Korean Se Ri Pak reached 23-under-par 261 in 1998, defeating Lisa Hall and World Golf Hall of Famer Karrie Webb by nine and 10 shots respectively.

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Rachel Teske (2002).

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Sarah Kemp, Katherine Kirk, Minjee Lee and Sarah Jane Smith.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Friday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 1am – 4am)
Round 2: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 1am – 4am)
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 507 LIVE 5am – 8am)
Round 4: Monday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 5am – 8am)
*AEST, check local guides