On Tuesday, the USGA announced the groupings for the US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach and they are highlighted by LPGA rookie sensation Rose Zhang playing with two former major champions Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson. The threesome drew one of the later tee times for the first round—2:35 p.m. PT, which will put them into all of USA Network’s live coverage for Thursday’s first round. The group tees off at 8:50 a.m. on Friday.

Among the other featured groups:

World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, No. 2 Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson.

Sei Young Kim, recent KPMG Women’s PGA Championship winner Ruoning Yin and Megan Khang.

Yuka Saso, the 2021 US Women’s Open champion at Olympic Club, two-time major winner So Yeon Ru, and amateur Anna Davis, the champion of the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

And in the tournament’s most nostalgic group, 52-year-old Annika Sorenstam is paired with Michelle Wie West, who has said this will be her last event, and In Gee Chun.

All times Pacific

7 a.m. / 12:45 p.m. – (a) Kelly Xu, Claremont, Calif.; Haeji Kang, Republic of Korea; Lindy Duncan, Plantation, Fla.

7:11 a.m. / 12:56 p.m. – Miyu Sato, Japan; Jaravee Boonchant, Thailand; Amanda Doherty, Atlanta, Ga.

7:22 a.m. / 1:07 p.m. – Azahara Muñoz, Spain; Amy Olson, Fargo, N.D.; Emma Spitz, Austria

7:33 a.m. / 1:18 p.m. – Na Rin An, Republic of Korea; (a) Benedetta Moresco, Italy; Amy Yang, Republic of Korea

7:44 a.m. / 1:29 p.m. – Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Denmark; Hae Ran Ryu, Republic of Korea; (a) Jeneath Wong, Malaysia

7:55 a.m. / 1:40 p.m. – Jenny Shin, Republic of Korea; Jeongeun Lee6, Republic of Korea; Alison Lee, Los Angeles, Calif.

8:06 a.m. / 1:51 p.m. – Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand; Mina Harigae, Monterey, Calif.; Gaby Lopez, Mexico

8:17 a.m. / 2:02 p.m. – Minjee Lee, Australia; (a) Saki Baba, Japan; Ashleigh Buhai, South Africa

8:28 a.m. / 2:13 p.m. – (a) Amari Avery, Riverside, Calif.; Ally Ewing, Fulton, Miss.; Angel Yin, Arcadia, Calif.

8:39 a.m. / 2:24 p.m. – Lilia Vu, Fountain Valley, Calif.; Danielle Kang, Las Vegas, Nev.; Charley Hull, England

8:50 a.m. / 2:35 p.m. – So Yeon Ryu, Republic of Korea; (a) Anna Davis, Spring Valley, Calif.; Yuka Saso, Japan

9:01 a.m. / 2:46 p.m. – Yuri Yoshida, Japan; Paula Reto, South Africa; Ryann O’Toole, San Clemente, Calif.

9:12 a.m. / 2:57 p.m. – Milagros Chaves, Paraguay; Harukyo Nomura, Japan; Aya Kinoshita, Japan

Thursday (July 6), Hole #1 / Friday (July 7), Hole #10

12:45 p.m. / 7 a.m. – (a) Krissy Carman, Eugene, Ore.; Laura Sluman, Panama; (a) Farah O’Keefe, Austin, Texas

12:56 p.m. / 7:11 a.m. – Ayako Uehara, Japan; Amelia Garvey, New Zealand; Therese Warner, Kennewick, Wash.

1:07 p.m. / 7:22 a.m. – Maria Fassi, Mexico; (a) Grace Summerhays, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Xiaowen Yin, People’s Republic of China

1:18 p.m. / 7:33 a.m. – Alice Hewson, England; Kana Mikashima, Japan; (a) Emilia Migliaccio, Cary, N.C.

1:29 p.m. / 7:44 a.m. – (a) Chizuru Komiya, Japan; Jenny Coleman, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.; Hana Wakimoto, Japan

1:40 p.m. / 7:55 a.m. – (a) Jess Baker, England; Pajaree Anannarukarn, Thailand; Chella Choi, Republic of Korea

1:51 p.m. / 8:06 a.m. – Andrea Lee, Hermosa Beach, Calif.; Anna Nordqvist, Sweden; Cheyenne Knight, Aledo, Texas

2:02 p.m. / 8:17 a.m. – Madelene Sagstrom, Sweden; Hyo Joo Kim, Republic of Korea; Miyu Yamashita, Japan

2:13 p.m. / 8:28 a.m. – Ayaka Furue, Japan; Hannah Green, Australia; Linn Grant, Sweden

2:24 p.m. / 8:39 a.m. – Jennifer Kupcho, Westminster, Colo.; Atthaya Thitikul, Thailand; Leona Maguire, Republic of Ireland

2:35 p.m. / 8:50 a.m. – Brooke Henderson, Canada; Rose Zhang, Irvine, Calif.; Lydia Ko, New Zealand

2:46 p.m. / 9:01 a.m. – Mirim Lee, Republic of Korea; Teresa Toscano Borrero, Spain; (a) Angela Zhang, Bellevue, Wash.

2:57 p.m. / 9:12 a.m. – Brooke Matthews, Rogers, Ark.; (a) Julia Misemer, Overland Park, Kan.; Marissa Chow, Honolulu, Hawaii

Thursday (July 6), Hole #10 / Friday (July 7), Hole #1

7 a.m. / 12:45 p.m. – (a) Sadie Englemann, Austin, Texas; Gabriela Ruffels, Australia; Charlotte Thomas, England

7:11 a.m. / 12:56 p.m. – Bronte Law, England; Grace Kim, Australia; (a) Monet Chun, Canada

7:22 a.m. / 1:07 p.m. – Brittany Lang, Mckinney, Texas; Jill McGill, Denver, Colo.; Angela Stanford, Saginaw, Texas

7:33 a.m. / 1:18 p.m. – Patty Tavatanakit, Thailand; (a) Áine Donegan, Republic of Ireland; Sung Hyun Park, Republic of Korea

7:44 a.m. / 1:29 p.m. – (a) Zoe Campos, Valencia, Calif.; Moriya Jutanugarn, Thailand; Haruka Kawasaki, Japan

7:55 a.m. / 1:40 p.m. – Lizette Salas, Azusa, Calif.; Jodi Ewart Shadoff, England; (a) Yana Wilson, Henderson, Nev.

8:06 a.m. / 1:51 p.m. – Sei Young Kim, Republic of Korea; Ruoning Yin, People’s Republic of China; Megan Khang, Rockland, Mass.

8:17 a.m. / 2:02 p.m. – Carlota Ciganda, Spain; Xiyu Lin, People’s Republic of China; Hye-jin Choi, Republic of Korea

8:28 a.m. / 2:13 p.m. – Annika Sorenstam, Sweden; Michelle Wie West, Honolulu, Hawaii; In Gee Chun, Republic of Korea

8:39 a.m. / 2:24 p.m. – Celine Boutier, France; Georgia Hall, England; Nasa Hataoka, Japan

8:50 a.m. / 2:35 p.m. – Jin Young Ko, Republic of Korea; Nelly Korda, Bradenton, Fla.; Lexi Thompson, Delray Beach, Fla.

9:01 a.m. / 2:46 p.m. – Albane Valenzuela, Switzerland; Momoko Ueda, Japan; (a) Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, Australia

9:12 a.m. / 2:57 p.m. – Yuna Nishimura, Japan; Pernilla Lindberg, Sweden; Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y.

Thursday (July 6), Hole #10 / Friday (July 7), Hole #1

12:45 p.m. / 7 a.m. – Bailey Tardy, Norcross, Ga.; Dottie Ardina, Philippines; (a) Kaili Xiao, Republic of Korea

12:56 p.m. / 7:11 a.m. – (a) Sarah Edwards, Jay, Fla.; Dewi Weber, Netherlands; Aline Krauter, Germany

1:07 p.m. / 7:22 a.m. – Mackenzie Hahn, Spring Grove, Ill.; (a) Sophie Linder, Carthage, Tenn.; Kumkang Park, Republic of Korea

1:18 p.m. / 7:33 a.m. – Ruixin Liu, People’s Republic of China; Daniela Darquea, Ecuador; (a) Minori Nagano, Japan

1:29 p.m. / 7:44 a.m. – Perrine Delacour, France; (a) Lauren Kim, Canada; Manon De Roey, Belgium

1:40 p.m. / 7:55 a.m. – DaYeon Lee, Republic of Korea; Minami Katsu, Japan; Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, Thailand

1:51 p.m. / 8:06 a.m. – A Lim Kim, Republic of Korea; Hinako Shibuno, Japan; Eun Hee Ji, Republic of Korea

2:02 p.m. / 8:17 a.m. – Allisen Corpuz, Kapolei, Hawaii; Jiyai Shin, Republic of Korea; Marina Alex, Wayne, N.J.

2:13 p.m. / 8:28 a.m. – (a) Tinghsuan Huang, Chinese Taipei; Chisato Iwai, Japan; Minji Park, Republic of Korea

2:24 p.m. / 8:39 a.m. – Mao Saigo, Japan; Maja Stark, Sweden; So Mi Lee, Republic of Korea

2:35 p.m. / 8:50 a.m. – Gemma Dryburgh, Scotland; Aditi Ashok, India; Akie Iwai, Japan

2:46 p.m. / 9:01 a.m. – Beatrice Wallin, Sweden; Joy Chou, Chinese Taipei; (a) Celeste Dao, Canada

2:57 p.m. / 9:12 a.m. – Allysha Mae Mateo, Mililani, Hawaii; Jing Yan, People’s Republic of China; (a) Megan Propeck, Leawood, Kan.

The post Highlights from US Women’s Open tee times: Rose Zhang playing with Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson; Sorenstam and Wie West paired appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By year’s end, Chun fulfilled another milestone of sorts: creating 10 paintings to help raise money for the In Gee Chun Lancaster Country Club Educational Foundation, which provides scholarships for children growing up in the Pennsylvania community where she won her first major, the US Women’s Open, in 2015.

For Chun, it was rewarding yet a bit stressful, too. “I couldn’t go to sleep,” she said of the last few nights she worked on her paintings before they were displayed during an art show in South Korea in December “I had a coffee every hour.”

Chun’s interest in painting has an unusual yet inspiring origin. Following a difficult season on the course in 2021, Chun returned home to South Korea and opened up about the fact she had been battling depression while playing on tour. While getting away from the game during the off-season, she attended an art exhibition by Sun Mi Park and became captivated by her work, spending as much as an hour in front of one of Park’s pieces.

Afterward, she asked if she could meet Park and spend time in her studio. An hour of conversation turned into eight hours of Chun putting brush to paper the next day. Chun continued working with Park, learning the depths of how her color selections correlated with her emotions.

“She used nine different intelligences with the nine different colour to express [mood],” Chun said, “So I tried to use nine different colours, but at the time my mood was a little down. So I picked all the like dark colour.”

Chun says she hadn’t done anything like this in her youth, with her only painting “experience” being occasionally jazzing up her Nike shoes as a distraction while on the road. Yet she honed an innate talent with a brush under Park’s tutelage and turned it into a healthy stress reliever. The four-time LPGA Tour winner then approached Park last May to ask if she’d be open to an exhibition together.

It led to them collaborating on Chun’s paintings for her foundation. Among Chun’s works are several renditions of the classic Disney character Dumbo, which the golfer has a personal connection with; her golf instructor, Won Park, tagged Chun with that nickname thanks to her excellent hearing.

The charitable aspect of creating the paintings is something that fits Chun’s personality. Just last week at the Chevron Championship, Chun made a hole-in-one during Saturday’s third round at Carlton Woods outside of Houston that came with a $1 million donation to charities.

“When I buy something, expensive things, it makes me happy only two or three days, but if I help someone or if I donate money to charity, then one year later or 10 years later or 20 years later, people will keep [benefiting]. I think it’s more meaningful.”

Equally satisfying, Chun’s new passion for painting have her an important way to express herself away from the course.

“When I talk with her [Park], I can see more of the world without the golf,” Chun said, “It’s always a good time with her, so it’s more like healing time for me.”Painting inspires this LPGA major winner to raise money for her foundation — and find balance in her life

The post Painting inspires LPGA major winner to raise money for foundation — and find balance in life appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Park followed and opening 69 with a 67 Friday and is in fourth place, two shots behind Women’s PGA Championship winner In Gee Chun.

Still, it’s been a while for the 34-year-old Korean. Yes, she has amassed 28 other top-10 finishes to set alongside those Grand Slam wins, but the last of those victories arrived back in 2015 at the Women’s Open at Turnberry. The well-earned respect from her fellow competitors will surely remain, but the fear factor that took her to World No. 1 on four separate occasions cannot be what it once was.

Since she withdrew prior to the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles, Park has played five times without any great distinction. Three cuts have been missed — including the last major, the Evian Championship and last week at the Scottish Open — her best finish a T-15 at the Shoprite Classic. Her most recent LPGA win was in March last year at the Kia Classic.

Even the putting for which Park is rightly lauded hasn’t been quite what it was. Not according to her anyway.

“Believe it or not, I’ve been striking the ball so well all year,” she claimed. “But my putter has been just not good at all. I’ve had a lot of three-putts and been missing every single opportunity on the greens. So I think just the putter has been a little bit different this week. Everything else is the same, same ball striking, same swing, everything. I’m just rolling in a few more putts, maybe two or three more per day.”

None of which seemed to be bothering the ever-serene Park at the end of a day when she shot a 67 that had clearly pleased her. Five birdies dotted a scorecard marred by only a single bogey, a feat she also achieved during her opening 69. There was a bigger difference than that two-shot improvement though.

“It was a little less windy today, a little bit easier to play than yesterday,” Park said. “I hit a lot of good shots out there today. My ball-striking was my strength. I don’t remember chipping at all today. So I was hitting a lot of greens and gave my myself a lot of opportunities at birdie. I’m thinking my putter was good, too. There were so many opportunities. It was fun playing like that. Yesterday I was in six bunkers. So I was able to avoid a lot of them today. Today, just one.”

Ominously for her fellow challengers, Park followed her display of pleasure with an acknowledgement of her position with two (increasingly blustery) rounds to play on a links course that is seeing its first Women’s British Open after hosting 16 of the male versions. Class players tend to win at Muirfield and Park more than fits the bill in an environment she at first struggled in but has grown to love.

“I think I’m in a good position, obviously,” she said. “And I feel like my game is in good form. I’ve just got to keep doing what I have been doing today. The first few years I just struggled with links golf so much. It was such a different golf. And I didn’t know if I was enjoying myself because it was always rainy, always windy. I was miserable. But then after a few years, I really started enjoying links golf, and it’s just beautiful out here. I’ve became falling in love with it more and more. And it’s definitely one of my favorite places to come and play.”

Okay, what would victory here this week mean? For years now, Park has been hinting at early retirement, so would a win here represent a crowning glory? Or would such a feat merely galvanise her to go for more?

“I think that winning here will be a very good way to saying a farewell,” she said, briefly hinting at retirement from a game that has seen her win 27 times and amass $18,197,343 on the LPGA alone. “I think it’s definitely one of my dreams to do it. But I still have a little bit left in me, so I’m trying to keep that going for now.”

Two more days might just be enough.

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The post AIG Women’s Championship: It has been a while by Inbee Park’s standards, but the seven-time major champ is lurking in Scotland appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Jay Coffin
Lexi Thompson held a two-shot lead during the final round Sunday at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, but made four bogeys in a six-hole stretch at Congressional and ended up one shot behind In Gee Chun, who claimed her third major championship.

WATCH: Highlights from the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

Thompson was emotional, not having time yet to process all the costly missed putts in the previous hour, when tournament officials alerted Thompson and playing partner Hye-Jin Choi that they’d been fined $2,000 for slow play.

Choi and Thompson were playing with Chun in the championship’s final grouping on Sunday and the whole group was put on the clock with only two holes remaining.

The issue created instant social media buzz, including from two-time major winner Justin Thomas who tweeted, “I’m all for helping slow play, but putting those ladies on the clock with 2 holes left trying to win a major seems like a good read the room situation and don’t put them on the clock.”

I’m all for helping slow play, but putting those ladies on the clock with 2 holes left trying to win a major seems like a good read the room situation and don’t put them on the clock ??‍

— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) June 26, 2022

Choi was not in the mix at the time and stumbled to a 76 and tied for fifth place with four others. Thompson tied for second place with US Women’s Open winner Minjee Lee.

Last year at the US Women’s Open at The Olympic Club Thompson lost a five-shot lead during the final round and finished one shot out of a playoff between Yuka Saso and Nasa Hataoka. She’s had nine runner-up finishes since her last LPGA victory, the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic.

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The 27-year-old from South Korea was leading by five after the first round at Congressional Country Club, six after the second and three after the third. But she saw that advantage disappear on Sunday, making four bogeys over her first eight holes. With three holes to play, Chun was two shots behind Lexi Thompson and her first LPGA win since 2018 seemed unlikely.

But Chun hung tough, birdieing the par-5 16th as Thompson make a bogey, and the pair were tied. Then Chun made a par on the 17th while Thompson bogeyed, giving the South Korean back the lead. And a clutch two-putt from just over the green on the par-4 18th gave Chun the victory at five-under despite a closing three-over 75.

MORE: In Gee holds on to win KPMG

Thompson jumped to the outright lead after the fourth hole with two early birdies. She was seven under for the championship through 11 holes after a birdie on the par 5. But then her struggles with her putter, something that’s held her back in past majors during her successful but sometimes frustrating career, returned. They led to bogeys on the 12th, 14th (missing a two-footer for par), 16th and 17th holes. A birdie on the 15th wasn’t enough to hold on as she would shoot a one-over 73 to finish one back, tied with Minjee Lee for a share of second.

With the victory, Chun earned the $1.35 million first-place prize money payout from the record $9 million purse. When KPMG came on as title sponsor of the championship in 2015, officials with the company made three promises: to play the event at sites that have hosted men’s majors; to air the major on network television; and to increase the purse. In 2022, all three promises have been fulfilled: The event is hosted at Congressional, was featured on NBC for six hours over the weekend and the purse has been doubled from $4.5 million to $9 million.

“Doubling the purse from $4.5 million to $9 million is another example of KPMG and the PGA of America’s dogged commitment to the LPGA and our athletes,” Mollie Marcoux Samaan, LPGA Commissioner, said.”We could not be more grateful for their steadfast leadership in growing the women’s game and providing our athletes and future athletes with opportunities commensurate with their world-class talent.”

The year before KPMG came on, the overall prize money payout in the event was $2.25 million. That rose to $3.5 million in 2015, $4.3 million in 2020 and then $4.5 million in 2021.

The latest bump puts the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship purse amongst the highest in women’s golf, bested only by the US Women’s Open ($12 million).

Here is the prize money payout for every golfer who made the cut at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Come back shortly after the finish and we’ll update the list with names and payouts:

Win: In Gee Chun, -5, $1,350,000
T-2: Lexi Thompson, -4, $718,826
T-2: Minjee Lee, -4, $718,826
4: Atthaya Athitkul, -3, $467,580
T-5: Nasa Hataoka, -1, $274,165.40
T-5: Hyo Joo Kim, -1, $274,165.40
T-5: Hannah Green, -1, $274,165.40
T-5: Hye-Jin Choi, -1, $274,165.40
T-5: Sei Young Kim, -1, $274,165.40
T-10: Lilia Vu, E, $155,464.16
T-10: Eun-Hee Ji, E, $155,464.16
T-10: Stephanie Kyriacou, E, $155,464.16
T-10: Jessica Korda, E, $155,464.16
T-10: Stephanie Meadow, E, $155,464.16
T-10: Jennifer Chang, E, $155,464.16
T-16: Lauren Coughlin, +1, $114,044
T-16: Anna Nordqvist, +1, $114,044
T-16: Chella Choi, +1, $114,044
T-16: Brooke Henderson, +1, $114,044
T-16: Jennifer Kupcho, +1, $114,044
T-21: Georgia Hall, 2, $95,799
T-21: Peiyun Chien, 2, $95,799
T-21: Ashleigh Buhai, 2, $95,799
T-21: In Kyung Kim, 2, $95,799
T-25: Madelene Sagstrom, 3, $80,744
T-25: Inbee Park, 3, $80,744
T-25: Jeongeun Lee5, 3, $80,744
T-25: Jenny Shin, 3, $80,744
T-25: Angel Yin, 3, $80,744
T-30: Pajaree Anannarukarn, +4, $59,987
T-30: Mao Saigo, +4, $59,987
T-30: Mel Reid, +4, $59,987
T-30: Caroline Inglis, +4, $59,987
T-30: Paula Reto, +4, $59,987
T-30: Nelly Korda, +4, $59,987
T-30: Allisen Corpuz, +4, $59,987
T-30: Alison Lee, +4, $59,987
T-30: Jin Young Ko, +4, $59,987
T-30: Yuka Saso, +4, $59,987

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WATCH: Highlights from the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

T-40: Gaby Lopez, +5, $42,957
T-40: Aditi Ashok, +5, $42,957
T-40: Wei-Ling Hsu, +5, $42,957
T-40: Sarah Kemp, +5, $42,957
T-40: Kelly Tan, +5, $42,957
T-40: Matilda Castren, +5, $42,957
T-46: Xiyu Janet Lin, +6, $36,037
T-46: Cheyenne Knight, +6, $36,037
T-46: Lydia Ko, +6, $36,037
49: So Yeon Ryu, +7, $33,299
T-50: Emily Kristine Pedersen, +8, $30,563
T-50: Stacy Lewis, +8, $30,563
T-50: A Lim Kim, +8, $30,563
T-50: Mirim Lee, +8, $30,563
T-54: Leona Maguire, +9, $26,002
T-54: Moriya Jutanugarn, +9, $26,002
T-54: Elizabeth Szokol, +9, $26,002
T-54: Ariya Jutanugarn, +9, $26,002
T-54: Pornanong Phatlum, +9, $26,002
T-54: Ryann O’Toole, +9, $26,002
T-60: Muni He, +10, $22,583
T-60: Brittany Altomare, +10, $22,583
T-62: Sung Hyun Park, +11, $21,667
T-62: Brianna Do, +11, $21,667
64: Na Rin An, +12, $20,987
T-65: Bianca Pagdanganan, +13, $20,072
T-65: Robynn Ree, +13, $20,072
T-65: Sophia Schubert, +13, $20,072
T-68: Jennifer Song, +15, $18,929
T-68: Gerina Mendoza, +15, $18,929
70: Cydney Clanton, +18, $18,250
71: Maude-Aimee Leblanc, +20, $18,023
WD: Hinako Shibuno, $17,787

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The post Here is the record-breaking prize money payout for each golfer at the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

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By the third hole Sunday at Congressional, that deficit had disappeared. By the fourth hole, Thompson was leading.

WATCH: Highlights from the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

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Thompson has always been a beautiful ball-striker and this year she has improved her putting. The combination of her long and short game coming together has put Thompson in contention several times in 2022. But the putter, no matter how improved, has long caused her difficulty.

Thompson couldn’t get the job done again late on Sunday at a major championship and she struggled mightily on the back nine, making four bogeys in the final seven holes. On the 14th she missed a two-footer for par. On the 16th, still up two, Thompson missed another short putt, while Chun made birdie. One more bogey from Thompson on 17 gave Chun back the lead. She played the last six holes in one-under and hung on just enough to secure her third major victory and fourth overall on the LPGA with a five-under 283 total despite a closing 75.

With a clutch five-foot par putt on 18 to seal her one-shot win over Thompson and Minjee Lee, Chun was overcome with emotion. The 27-year-old from South Korea had taken an early lead on Thursday with a stunning eight-under 64 to open the tournament, five shots clear of the field. Conditions were brutal on Thursday. Two inches of rain fell the previous night, saturating the renovated Blue course. The already long championship layout (set up at 6,800 yards) was playing even longer. Even Nelly Korda, one of the longest players in the game, had to hit 7-wood into a green with her approach on one par 5.

The winning moment. @ingeechun_dumbo #KPMGWomensPGA pic.twitter.com/fTQRvM7Pf9

— KPMG Women's PGA Championship (@KPMGWomensPGA) June 26, 2022

As the week went on, the course began to dry out, and Chun grew her lead to six shots after two rounds. But over the weekend it was clear she was feeling the effects of the extreme heat coupled with the stress of playing a major championship with such a large lead. On Saturday, Chun stumbled to a three-over 75, and suddenly her advantage was down to three.

Throughout the week, though, Chun spoke about patience. Whenever she got some misfortune, she smiled and attempted to live by this philosophy: “When I got bad luck, then I always try to believe the good luck is coming to me in the future,” Chun said.

It was an inspiring mentality. Chun treats herself with extreme kindness and patience on the golf course, while simultaneously being a relentless competitor. Often, being competitive is equated to being outwardly fierce. But Chun proved it’s possible to treat yourself with gentleness when you’re in the heat of battle for five-plus hour, four days in a row.

Chun said she’s been battling depression and that last week she broke down while talking to her sister on the phone. She felt lost and wanted to return to South Korea.

“She said, ‘In Gee, just quit golf. You’re the important thing,’” Chun said about her conversation with her sister. “When I heard what she said, I didn’t want to quit the golf. Then I believe I still have a spirit, and I saw, ‘In Gee, you still want to play golf.’

“I believed if I stick to my game plan and then I believe I have a chance in the back nine, so I try to hang in there. I’m so happy I made it. My body still shaking, though.”

That resolve earned Chun the large KPMG Women’s PGA Championship trophy and a $1.35 million winner’s cheque.

Lexi Thompson. Rob Carr

Back to Thompson. Despite her rocky back nine, she had a 12-foot birdie attempt on the 18th hole that would have forced a playoff. But once again, she couldn’t convert, closing with a one-over 73. Thompson signed autographs afterward, only to skip speaking with the media. She was understandably emotional; this isn’t the first time her putter has failed her in a big moment. Last year, she lost a five-stroke lead during the final round of the US Women’s Open at The Olympic Club. And since the last of her 11 career LPGA victories, the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic, she has had nine runner-up finishes.

As distraught as Thompson was, truth is, she’s played well this year even if she hasn’t won. Impressively, she has worked her way into the top 10 on tour in strokes gained/putting — a position she could have only dreamed of being in before this year. She’s ranked third in strokes gained/total and has recorded five top-five finishes. She is, without question, one of the best players in the world.

Thompson is 27 and in her 11th season on the LPGA but says she’s still learning about what works and what does not on the golf course. She’s more calculated about leaderboard watching these days and is looking well beyond just driving-distance statistics and more into the minutiae that make good players great.

All week, Thompson spoke about focusing on herself and only on what she can do. In the wake of another painful loss that philosophy is something she’ll need to rely on.

Thompson will do well to listen to the person who was holding the trophy she wanted at the end of a grueling week. Chun believes good luck follows bad luck on the golf course. It’s not a cute little saying. She truly believes it. It’s carried her through adversity.

This week at Congressional, it carried her to another major championship.

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The post In Gee Chun wins KPMG Women’s PGA, but Lexi Thompson suffers more major heartbreak appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

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.

In Gee Chun plays her shot from the second tee during the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Darren Carroll/PGA of America

By Keely Levins

In Gee Chun’s lead shrunk on Friday at Congressional, but only by one shot. She followed her record-setting first-round 64 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship with a three-under 69. Her lead is six shots over major champions Lydia Ko and Jennifer Kupcho.

Congressional Country Club is long at over 6,800 yards for the women, and it was made even longer for the week due to heavy rains on Wednesday night. Extreme set-ups can cause players to reconsider clubs in their sets, but Paul Boehmer, who runs the LPGA Tour’s equipment truck, said he didn’t see many club changes at Congressional.

One player who did make a couple key changes, however, was Chun. She took out her 3- and 4-hybrids and put in a 7-wood and 9-wood. Generally, for players with swing speeds like Chun’s, high-lofted fairway woods launch higher and go farther than hybrids. The higher launch helps the ball hold the green when it lands and the distance speaks for itself.

Clearly, the change is paying off. Chun ranks in the bottom half on the tour in driving distance, but she’s only missed three greens over 36 holes of play at Congressional.

“I think I used the 9-wood three holes straight,” Chun said. “I think I made two birdies with the 9-wood.”

Chun said the last time she used a 7-wood, she was a junior learning how to play golf. This is the first time she’s ever used a 9-wood.

Though Chun hasn’t won on tour since 2018, she’s a three-time champion. Two of those wins are majors: the 2015 US Women’s Open and the 2016 Evian Championship. It’s been over half a decade, but she knows how to win major championships. And heading into the weekend with a six shot lead is an enviable position to be in.

“I just want to keep trying what I did last two days,” Chun said. “I think that’s the key to make win this week. Just go with the flow, do what I can do.”

Ko tied for the day’s best score with a 67, while Kupcho shot 68.

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But, maybe in this case, it could.

On a rainy Thursday morning, In Gee Chun could do no wrong to start the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. The 27-year-old South Korean made nine birdies en route to an eight-under 64 at Congressional Country Club. With it, she secured a new course record at the newly renovated Blue course and opened up a sizable gap between herself and the rest of the field. After the morning wave, the next-closest competitors were seven shots back.

Among those at one-under 71 were major champions Nelly Korda, Jennifer Kupcho and Brooke Henderson. Each player was pleased with the score she had posted. And a bit surprised by the one Chun put up.

“I feel like I played really well,” Kupcho said. “The course is really hard. I don’t really know how In Gee is eight-under right now.”

In Gee Chun. Elsa

Chun knows what she’s doing at major championships. She’s won two: the 2015 US Women’s Open and the 2016 Evian Championship.

“Sometimes In Gee does that. Sometimes she just plays so well, and nothing bothers her, and it’s really cool to see,” Henderson said. “Hopefully I can be more like her tomorrow and make some more birdies and climb up the leaderboard.”

While Chun’s score might say otherwise, Congressional was playing tough on Thursday after the course was soaked with two inches of rain overnight. While playing soft, it was also playing long. Korda, the defending champion, noted that on the par-5 ninth hole she had to hit a 7-wood into the green with her third shot.

“Any first-round under par is good at a major,” said Korda, who lost in a playoff last week at the Meijer LPGA Classic and is playing in just her third event since returning from surgery to remove a blood clot. “I don’t know what golf course In Gee is playing. She must be playing really well.”

To hear Chun explain it, it did sound like she was playing a different golf course. After the round, she talked about how she’s been focusing of late on staying present with the shot at hand. She’d gotten so good at it that at Congressional, she didn’t realise how low she was going, walking around in her own little world. Rather than check leaderboards or think about her score, she spent time between shots chatting with her caddie about an annoying pimple on her lip and where to find the best kiwis, one of her favorite on-course snacks.

It wasn’t until her post-round press conference that she realised she was leading by seven.

In the afternoon, that lead was trimmed to five by Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand and Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi. But there’s no denying that’s a significant lead. Winning a golf tournament after being down so far after the first round isn’t uncharted major-championship territory. Remember Tiger’s opening 74 to Chris DiMarco’s 67 at the first round of the 2005 Masters?

There’s only one point in a tournament where it matters whether you’re leading or not. And it’s not after the first round.

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The post Two-time major winner In Gee Chun jumps out to stunning early lead at KPMG Women’s PGA appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.