Chun’s first-round 64 vaulted her to a five-shot lead and after two rounds, she had a healthy six-shot advantage. But Saturday was a hard day. A firmer course and tough pins brought on higher scores, and Chun’s 75 was one of the worst scores on the top half of the leaderboard.

Despite the difficult day, Chun continues to exude optimism. She smiled after a putt that should’ve gone in missed, and she didn’t appear frustrated as she navigated the unplayable that led to her double.

“When I got bad luck, then I always try to believe the good luck is coming to me in the future,” Chun said.

She wasn’t hard on herself after losing the large lead. Instead, she gave it a positive spin.

“I’m so excited and looking forward to an exciting final round already. Then if it’s going to be too easy, then I feel it is boring,” Chun said.

Thompson, on her way to a two-under 70 on Saturday, wasn’t paying attention as Chun struggled. She doesn’t watch leaderboards anymore.

“Looking at leaderboards does me no good, honestly, so really just focusing on my score, my shot at hand. That’s all I can do,” Thompson said.

She has four top-five finishes so far in the 2022 season, which would make one believe a win is close. But Thompson doesn’t entertain thoughts like this.

“I’m just happy that I’m putting myself in contention. I know I’ve put in the hard work and just to see it pay off means the world to me,” Thompson said. “I know I’m in a good state with my game and just my mental state, so going out tomorrow enjoying the walk with my caddie and hopefully a lot of fans out there supporting us. Whatever score I shoot, I shoot.”

Lexi Thompson. Elsa

Thompson’s mental state has been affected by her grandmother’s recent passing. She died of natural causes the week before the US Women’s Open. As Thompson continues to process the loss, she said she knows her grandmother is watching.

If Thompson were to win the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, it’d be her second major victory; her first one came at the 2014 Kraft Nabisco (now Chevron Championship).

Sunday at Congressional looks like it’s going to be a lot like Saturday: hot. As players came into the press area, the effects of the heat were apparent on their faces. But Thompson didn’t look as fazed. She admits she doesn’t mind the heat; she’s from Florida, so 90 degrees and a beating sun is something she’s used to. More than anything she’s ready for another weekend in contention.

“You always want to be in the final group in any tournament that you’re putting yourself in contention and a chance to win,” Thompson said. “I love that the hard work has been able to pay off for me. I’ve been putting in the time, so to see it pay off and pay dividends means the world to me, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Hopefully we get great weather, a lot of people, and the course is in great shape for us. I’m just going to enjoy every bit of it.”

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The post KPMG Women’s PGA Championship: In Gee Chun stumbles as Lexi Thompson charges into final group at Congressional appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
The Wells Fargo Championship returns to Charlotte following a one-year sabbatical, the tournament temporarily moving to Eagle Point to accommodate the PGA Championship’s visit to Quail Hollow. As evidenced during the PGA build-up, when a course in the PGA Tour rotation gets tabbed into a major slot, players with strong track records at the venue are touted as favourites. (Last year’s darlings, Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler, mostly fizzled out, although Fowler had a Sunday 67 for a backdoor top five.)

But is there any performance correlation between major championships and PGA Tour events at the same venue, specifically, when the tour returns to its usually-scheduled tournament the following year? We examined the last six such instances, and the symmetry, or lack thereof, should give bettors pause on backing PGA champ Justin Thomas or runner-up Patrick Reed this week. Note: Bethpage Black was considered for the 2009 U.S. Open and 2012 Barclays, but we felt the time between events was too long to warrant inclusion.

Congressional — 2011 U.S. Open to 2012 AT&T National

For those that need the reminder, this was when Rory McIlroy torched D.C. like it was 1812, shooting a U.S. Open record 16-under par for an eight-shot victory. Alas, McIlroy did not tee it up at next summer’s National (never has, actually), passing on the chance to run it back at Congressional. Similarly, the National’s champ, Tiger Woods, withdrew from the ‘11 Open with a knee injury. Not much help here.

However, the events did have some interaction, as Robert Garrigus and Jason Day finished inside the top 10 at both events, with Garrigus going T-3 at the Open and T-4 at National and Day checking in with a runner-up and T-8. Interestingly, though the major championships tend to be closer to par than their tour brethren, McIlroy’s 16 under doubled Woods’ eight-under tour winning mark.

Pebble Beach — 2010 U.S. Open to 2011 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

What’s with these U.S. Open winners not returning to their stomping grounds? Graeme McDowell, the 2010 champ, didn’t make another Pebble Beach appearance until 2014. However, Phil Mickelson, who finished T-4 at the 2010 U.S. Open, came back to Monterey Peninsula in the spring and made the most of his visit, capturing the 2011 Pebble Beach Pro-Am. But to think the Open spurred Lefty to victory is mistaken, as Mickelson had already won the Pro-Am three times.

Dustin Johnson, who entered the U.S. Open final round with a three-shot lead only to infamously fire an 82 on Sunday, was the only player to post top 10s at both tournaments. Mickelson’s winning score of 269 bettered McDowell by 15 shots.

Richard Hartog

Torrey Pines — 2008 U.S. Open to 2009 Farmers Insurance Open

Another winner, this time Woods, who didn’t return. In his defense, Tiger was sidelined at the time after, you know, winning the hardest golf tournament in the world over 91 holes on a broken leg. Nick Watney, who claimed the then-Buick Invitational in 2009, made the weekend at the 2008 U.S. Open but was mostly a non-factor, finishing T-60. Woods won the Open at 283, Watney the Buick at 277.

Only one player finished inside the top 10 at both: Camilo Villegas. That will win you a bar bet or two. Although expect odd glances for asking, “Can you name the only player to finish in the top 10 at the 2008 U.S. Open AND 2009 Buick Invitational?”

Pebble Beach — 2000 U.S. Open to 2001 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Woods makes his third appearance on the list, this time for lapping the U.S. Open field by 15 shots. Why we don’t discuss his 2000 tour de force on a weekly basis is beyond me.

Tiger teed it up at Carmel the subsequent season, not only as the reigning U.S. Open winner but the defending Pro-Am champ as well. Unfortunately for Woods, an uneven second round kept a Pebble three-peat at bay, ultimately finishing T-13. That week’s winner, Davis Love III, missed the cut at the Open. Only Vijay Singh had high finishes at both, a T-8 and runner-up at the Pro-Am.

J.D. Cuban

Riviera — 1995 PGA Championship to 1996 L.A. Open

Only two competitors played well at both, but they’re names that matter. Steve Elkington brought home the Wanamaker Trophy in 1995 after defeating Colin Montgomerie in a playoff. Elk went a tad higher than his winning 17-under 267 at next year’s L.A. Open, although his 281 was still good enough for a T-10. Craig Stadler, who owned a handful of near-misses in 20 previous Riviera starts, won the L.A. Open after placing eighth at the prior PGA. Hey, only took 20 years of turning back the clock, but we found binary links!

Southern Hills — 1994 PGA Championship to 1995 Tour Championship

Nice Price won his second consecutive major and third overall at Southern Hills, his 11-under 269 five shots better than Corey Pavin. His next go-around in Tulsa would, ahem, not be as prosperous, his four-day score 30 shots higher at the 1995 Tour Championship. (Spoiler alert: he came in last.) Billy Mayfield, who took the Tour crown, didn’t do much of note at the PGA, evidenced in a T-39.

Nevertheless, three players did make PGA and Tour Championship runs: Pavin (who finished second at both), Elkington (T-7 at PGA, T-2 with Pavin) and Greg Norman.

While the sample size is short, the findings are clear. Thomas, Reed, Hideki Matsuyama, and Louis Oosthuizen are among the favorites this week, and one of them will likely flourish. But, on the whole, history paints an ominous forecast.

The post Is there any correlation between major championships and PGA Tour events at the same venue? appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.