The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is the second-oldest major in women’s golf after the U.S. Women’s Open presented by ProMedica. Since 1955, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship has been played in 14 different states, with the state of Maryland hosting this year’s championship for a record 12th time in 2022.
The 68th edition will be played at Congressional Country Club’s Blue Course in Bethesda, Maryland. Most recent major champions in Maryland include Anna Nordqvist (2009), Yani Tseng (2008), Suzann Pettersen (2007), Se Ri Pak (2006) and Annika Sorenstam (2005).
| Most KPMG Women's PGA Championship by Host State | |
|---|---|
| Maryland | 12 |
| Ohio | 12 |
| Delaware | 11 |
| Massachusetts | 7 |
| New York | 7 |
Last year, Nelly Korda won her first major at Atlanta Athletic Club and tied the record for the lowest 72-hole in relation to par at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. The victory came one week after Korda won the 2021 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. She rose to Rolex Rankings World No. 1 for the first time and became the third American to be ranked the best player in the world (Cristie Kerr, 2010; Stacy Lewis 2013-14).
| Lowest 72-Hole in Relation to Par | |
|---|---|
| KPMG Women's PGA Championship Since 1955 | |
| 2010 Cristie Kerr | -19 |
| 2011 Yani Tseng | -19 |
| 2015 Inbee Park | -19 |
| 2021 Nelly Korda | -19 |
Sei Young Kim has experienced the greatest success at this major in the last five years. Kim is a combined 30-under par in five starts at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship since 2017, which is six strokes better than any other player during this timeframe. Kim won the major championship in 2020 at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania and has finished no lower than T25 in the last five editions.
| Best Combined Score to Par | |
|---|---|
| KPMG Women's PGA Championship Since 2017 | |
| Sei Young Kim | -30 |
| Nelly Korda | -24 |
| Lizette Salas | -24 |
| Brooke Henderson | -22 |
The last six winners of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship either led or co-led after 36 holes. The magic number is one stroke ahead of the field before the weekend.
| 36-Hole Position of Winner - Last Six Years | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Brooke Henderson | Co-led | 1 stroke ahead |
| 2017 | Danielle Kang | Co-led | 1 stroke ahead |
| 2018 | Sung Hyun Park | Co-led | 1 stroke ahead |
| 2019 | Hannah Green | Led | 3 strokes ahead |
| 2020 | Sei Young Kim | Led | 1 stroke ahead |
| 2021 | Nelly Korda | Led | 1 stroke ahead |
The average score to par for the winner since 2016 is -11.8. The key to winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is hitting 50 or more greens in regulation which has led the previous six champions to record an average of 18 birdies or better and six bogeys or worse on the greens.
According to data compiled in the KPMG Performance Insights, Korda ranked first in strokes gained total at the 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, averaging 6.28 strokes per round on the field.
| Nelly Korda Strokes Gained | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2021 KPMG Women's PGA Championship | ||
| Average | Rank | |
| Strokes gained total | 6.28 | 1st |
| Strokes gained tee to green | 4.88 | 1st |
| Strokes gained putting | 1.40 | 21st |
With the Blue Course’s recent re-design showcasing beautiful fairways, spectacular greens and vegetation, the course will be a lovely setting for this month’s major. Listed as a Top 100 course, first opened in 1924, spectators will be immersed in history as they enjoy elite women’s golf.
)
)
)
)
