From Nelly Korda to Lydia Ko’s record chase, the storyline is watched on KPMG
The LPGA Tour will hold three major championships over the next six weeks, starting with the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and held Thursday at Fields Ranch East of PGA Frisco, Frisco, Texas.
South Korea’s Amy Yang is the defending champion.
This is the last major championship to be played in the United States this season. The Amundi Evian Championship will be held in France from 10 to 13 July, followed by the AIG Women’s Open in Wales on July 31. 3.
Here are some of the storylines to watch in Frisco this week:
Can Nelly end her invincible drought?
One year ago, World One golfer Nelly Korda had won six titles before the KPMG Women’s PGA title, including her second major victory at the Chevron Championship. After finishing first place in Annika in November, she won seven wins in 2024.
This season, she is still looking for her first victory. She wasn’t bad, ranking in the top 10 out of four of her nine games and ranked second in the U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills, Wisconsin last month.
“Yes, it’s golf,” Corda said. “It’s so different every year. I’ve attended this event last year and I’ve got it [six] victory. I think even Hannah Green has won several times.
“It’s just golf. You just have to wave the waves and the game is getting better and better every year. To win once, to win twice, it’s really good.”
There hasn’t been a repeated title in the 15 LPGA Tour games this season, while Japan’s Mao Ze-Hiang and Sweden’s Maja Stark are Chevron champions and the first major champions of the U.S. Women’s Open.
Korda has been 2 strokes behind in 283 under 5 strokes in the women’s open-ended game in the United States. Korda leads with a stroke: fifth (+1.82) and approach (+1.67), but she ranks 52nd in putter (-.42).
“I think it makes you hungry,” Korda said. “For me, I hate making mistakes; obviously, I like winning. You don’t win often, but there’s nothing like participating, so I think it makes me eager to come back, work harder and put myself in that position.
“At the end of the day, I did take myself to this position. I’m still in the battle and feel adrenaline rush at 18, trying to win a major championship. That’s why I play this game and I love it so much.”
Thitikul stares at the world number one
Although Korda hasn’t finished his first match this season, world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul has already won the European Women’s Tour (PIF Saudi Ladies International on February 15) and the LPGA Tour (Mizuho Americas) (opening May 11).
The 22-year-old will try to win the first major championship of the week. If Thitikul does this, she will be closer to Korda as the world’s number one golfer. Thitikul from Thailand is the 2022 LPGA Rookie of the Year, ranking No. 1 in the world this season.
Her best in professionals was fourth solo at the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship held at the Congress Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.
“I never thought I would be ranked No. 1 in the world when I was 19,” Thitikul said. “But now I am second in the world, I still feel the same way.” [in] Because I think [no matter what number I am]my job is the same. ”
Thitikul, who lives in the Dallas area, led the LPGA to score: Total (2.70), second-ranked average score (69.1).
She has six top 10 in 10 games and missed only one promotion, which is an important reason why she leads the LPGA’s season-long points game.
“I honestly just want to lay off employees,” Thitikul said. “It’s really great to win it, and I can say that winning a professional dream is like everyone’s dream. For me, everything I have now. I’m very happy with what I’ve achieved. If I can get it, it’s great, but if I don’t, I have nothing to regret.”
New venue for the Women’s PGA Championship
This is the best female golfer in the world at Fields Ranch East competition at PGA Frisco, one of two courses at the new PGA in the United States.
The course held the 2023 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in May 2023, and Steve Stricker beat Padraig Harrington in the playoffs to win a 72-hole 72-hole 270-shot title.
Designed by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, the course will host the Women’s PGA Championships in 2025 and 2031 and the Men’s PGA Championships in 2027 and 2034.
“I think this kind of golf course is making a lot of decisions at which time of year you have,” said three-time main champion Lydia Ko. “It’s not that firm and fast, and I think the forecast could be a little rain. So, I think the course might be much more of a lot of play than the senior men a few years ago.”
It was both hot and dry after Thursday’s development round. Weather forecasts require southerly winds at 10-18 mph at mid- and mid-90s lows.
“I think it all depends on the wind,” Korda said. “All 5s are almost par three for me, so just dial. The downwind hole, I think maybe the hardest thing is, because it’s hard to hold the green. If you do come across some fluffy Bermuda, it’s sluggish and you can stay there, so you can’t play.”
Chasing Annika
KO was the youngest member of the LPGA Hall of Fame at the age of 28. She is the 23-time champion of the LPGA Tour, 38-time champion in the world, and is also the Olympic gold medalist in women’s golf.
With another win, KO can also be more than 10-time champion Annika Sorenstam in his career earnings on the LPGA Tour. Sorenstam won 72 games and earned about $22.6 million before retiring after the 2008 season.
“exist [a way]which is unfair because she won 70 times. “We’re just playing in a very different era.”
KO has made about $20.8 million since Turning Pro in 2013.
“I think I’ve said many times in women’s golf and women’s sports that we’re just so tall,” KO said. “I think it’s so lucky to be able to ride it.
“I’m lucky to be born in this era, so it’s a tough meaning compared to what I’ve done more than I do. I think that’s why that’s why our responsibilities as players or as an organization are able to continue to grow it and provide more opportunities for future generations and children who are watching us here.”
Delighted with Spaun
Stark has been a whirlwind for weeks since she won Korda and others for the biggest win of her career at Erin Hills. The former Oklahoma State golfer is now ranked sixth in the world.
She took a break last week to let gravity sink. Stark said she didn’t win, but when JJ Spaun took over his first major with a 64.5-foot putt on Sunday at the U.S. Open at the Oakmont Country Club outside Pittsburgh.
“I cried after the JJ Spaun win because I was so excited for him,” Stark said. “It was crazy to hear him almost resign last year, like he cried, ended with two birdies and ended that way.
“Seeing his kid, you know, hug him. That just makes me excited about anyone. I’m like a little crying.”
