The second major of the 2023 LPGA Tour season takes place this week at Baltusrol Golf Club. The Lower Course will host a women’s major championship for the second time and first time since the 1961 U.S. Women’s Open where Mickey Wright was victorious. In 1985, Kathy Baker won the U.S. Women’s Open on the Upper Course at Baltusrol. This will be the fourth time since 1980 that an LPGA Tour major championship will be played in the state of New Jersey with the most recent major champion crowned in 2017 at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.
LPGA Tour Major Winners | ||
---|---|---|
In New Jersey Since 1980 | ||
Year | Player | Location |
1985 | Kathy Baker | Baltusrol Golf Club, Upper Course |
1987 | Laura Davies | Plainfield Country Club |
2017 | Sung Hyun Park | Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, Old Course |
In 2017, Danielle Kang broke through for her first career major title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, recording all four rounds in the 60s at Olympia Fields Country Club in Illinois. Prior to her win, Kang had yet to break 70 in her six previous starts in this major, but since 2018, she ranks second for most rounds in the 60s at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship with six sub-70 rounds in her last four starts. Kang has finished tied for fifth twice and tied for 33rd twice in her last four appearances.
Most Rounds in the 60s | |
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KPMG Women's PGA Championship Since 2018 | |
Nasa Hataoka | 7 |
Sei Young Kim | 7 |
Danielle Kang | 6 |
Following her major win, Kang moved to No. 18 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and has since been ranked amongst the top 30 players in the world. Her career-best Rolex Ranking was No. 2, which she held for six consecutive weeks following her fourth win at the 2020 LPGA Drive On Championship contested at Inverness Club. Kang is currently 20th in the world with six total wins in her career, which is tied for fifth most on the LPGA Tour since the 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Most LPGA Tour Wins | |
---|---|
Since the 2017 KPMG Women's PGA Championship | |
Jin Young Ko | 15 |
Brooke Henderson | 9 |
Nelly Korda | 8 |
Sung Hyun Park | 7 |
Currently, four of the top 10 players in the world have ranked in the top 10 for the greatest number of weeks since the 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Lexi Thompson leads the field and has finished in the top 30 in 10 of her last 11 starts at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She recorded her best finish last year at Congressional Country Club when she finished in a tie for second place alongside Minjee Lee.
Most Weeks Ranked in the Top 10 | |
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Since the 2017 KPMG Women's PGA Championship | |
Lexi Thompson | 256 |
Minjee Lee | 248 |
Brooke Henderson | 243 |
Jin Young Ko | 241 |
According to data compiled in the KPMG Performance Insights, Chun missed only six fairways at the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, which led to an impressive strokes gained tee to green average of 2.31 strokes per round on the field. Chun ranked second in putts per green in regulation with 34 birdie chances from 20 feet or better.
In Gee Chun Performance Statistics | ||
---|---|---|
2022 KPMG Women's PGA Championship | ||
Rank | ||
Driving Accuracy Percentage | 89.29% | T26 |
Strokes Gained Tee to Green | 2.31 | 5 |
Putting Average – Putts per GIR | 1.71 | T2 |
With an exciting field of 156 players this year in Springfield, N.J., the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship will keep fans cheering for their favorites to win.