Have you ever felt claustrophobic on a golf course? It’s easy for the walls to feel like they are closing in.
That can definitely be the case at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington. The host venue for the 69th KPMG Women’s PGA Championship owns the narrowest fairways framed for major championship golf. The world’s best players have been here before as Sahalee was also the host to the 2016 KPMG won by Brooke Henderson. The Canadian defeated then world No. 1 Lydia Ko in a playoff that year after both finished tied with a 6-under total.
This year’s field of 156 is full of talent. All of the top 25 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings are competing for the third major championship title of 2024. The likely tournament favorite is Nelly Korda, who has been on an incredible run with six victories already this season but has missed her last two cuts in a row.
Sahalee will be set up as a par-72 scorecard measuring 6,731 yards. Designed in 1969 by Ted Robinson, the course’s primary defense are trees – about 7,500 of them!
There have been a couple of changes to the layout since Henderson grabbed the trophy eight years ago. The most significant change is that hole 18 will play as a par 5 and was a tough closing par 4 in 2016. The greens average 6,000 square feet in size and are covered in Poa annua grass. Six holes have water in play and 56 bunkers protect the greens and fairways.
There may not be another championship venue that has tighter landing areas off the tee. Looking at who might fare well at this venue, it makes sense to start by looking at the final leaderboard from the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship here. Major champions and straight hitters adorn the top 20 finishers. All of them found a way to reach these fairways. Strokes gained off the tee is a flawed stat for this week. It favors length over accuracy. In an effort to determine the LPGA Tour’s best drivers, it makes more sense to combine strokes gained off the tee and fairway accuracy.
This comparison is the primary key to contending this week. Looking at that data makes Megan Khang, Haeran Ryu, Ayaka Furue and Brooke Henderson the ones to watch. Each of these players is also in the top 20 for strokes gained tee to green. Another key factor to look at this week is who can convert on the greens. This is a major championship, and whether an athlete is putting for birdie or par, being able to save strokes on these guarded greens will be key. Anna Nordqvist is the best putter on Tour.
A major champion herself, Nordqvist has finished in the top 16 in the last two KPMG Women’s PGA Championships. Anna’s closest challengers with a flatstick on the top of the odds board are U.S. Women’s Open winner Yuka Saso and Sei Young Kim.
The par 5s could also play a critical role in determining this year’s champion. No surprise, Nelly Korda and Yuka Saso lead birdie production on the par-5 holes this season. This gives them a great advantage when the layout presents such a stern test. And now. with the 18th hole playing as a par-5, competitors will have a great scoring opportunity at the finish as well.
Megan Khang won the CPKC Women’s Open title and is a favorite of mine for the KPMG. Khang is ranked first instrokes gained tee to green, eighth in fairways hit and third on approach. The always-accurate American Solheim Cup star is a great value grab in the middle of the betting board. Her complement of skills is super for Sahalee. Khang also represents a template for other players to pick like superstar Rose Zhang.
Zhang is ranked fifth tee to green, second on approach and fifth in fairway accuracy. Those two will be on my betting outright card. Who will be on yours? Survey the field yourself and see what player’s characteristics match this preview and can contend.
Both majors to date have been won by big names and that trend might continue. Can Korda capture another trophy this season, or will another name step up? One thing is for sure, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is a complete test that a player can pass by keeping their ball out of the trees.
Keith Stewart is an award-winning PGA Professional. He covers the LPGA and PGA TOUR for Golf Digest, SportsGrid, The Sporting News, LPGA, and PGA TOUR. If you are looking to raise your golf acumen and love inside information about the game, check out his weekly newsletter called Read The Line.
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