It’s been a hot minute since Megan Khang last played in the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer. It’s also been more than a moment since she was atop the leaderboard on the LPGA Tour. But this week, as Khang makes her return to Seaview’s Bay Course for the first time since 2018, she has propelled herself into contention, giving herself a chance at returning to the winner’s circle.
“I will admit, I haven't been here in a hot minute,” Khang said after her round on Saturday about being back in the hunt. “The environment, the people, they're all so welcoming. It's really cool out there when you have fans just following you around rooting for me. Reminds me to come back to ShopRite.”
Friday, Khang closed out her opening round with five consecutive birdies to shoot 65 and rode that momentum to a second round of 69 on Saturday. That string of five-straight birdies matched her longest consecutive streak in a single round for the 26-year old, who was so excited with the achievement that she threw her putter.
“I made this long putt and I literally -- first time I think I've ever thrown a putter. I just ecstatically threw my putter into the fringe, because I wouldn't do it into the green, and then I was just like pumped,” Khang said about her birdie run on Friday. “Then I just like – the good vibes kept flowing.”
It’s been less than a year since the good vibes were flowing for Khang when she captured her long-awaited first win on the LPGA Tour at the CPKC Women’s Open in August. The victory was one of five top 10s that Khang enjoyed last year, but she’s struggled to keep that same form in 2024. Coping with a back injury, Khang has just a single top 10 so far this year at the LPGA Drive On Championship in January. But Khang has much more than just a trophy to play for on Sunday.
With Khang’s maiden victory in August 2023, she jumped inside the top 15 in the Rolex Rankings and in doing so well-positioned herself for a spot on Team USA to represent her country at the upcoming Olympic games in Paris.
But, that’s all changed.
Last week, Khang finished tied for 44th in the U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club and in doing so tumbled one spot in the world rankings, dropping from No. 15 to 16, and therefore off the U.S. squad.
This week’s ShopRite LPGA Classic is one of three remaining events left to qualify as the team will be solidified following the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in two weeks. Countries with up to four players ranked inside the top 15 in the Rolex Rankings are eligible to represent their country in Paris. Khang is currently the fourth-ranked American in the world behind Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, and Rose Zhang.
“It's there in the back of my mind, but at the same time, with the same mentality with Solheim Cup, if I play well, good things will follow,” Khang said in May about the potential of qualifying for both the Olympics and the U.S. Solheim Cup teams. “I was looking at it early in the year, and I probably will admit that I paid a little too much attention to it.”
Sunday, Khang will need to shelve the expectations of making her first Olympic squad and the prospect of returning for her fourth Solheim Cup in order to have a chance at hoisting the trophy at Seaview. Further adding to the challenge, she’ll be trying to chase down a win for the first time in her career, as she held a three-stroke lead when she entered the final round en route to victory in Canada. But Khang is excited to see what Sunday brings.
“It's fun always being at the top, in contention, having a chance. Obviously the afternoon wave is probably just going off now, so we'll see where I end up at the end of the day.” Khang said after her morning tee time. “Other than that, I think we know we're going to have to have a good Sunday and see where that puts us.”
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