The LPGA Tour is now in the heart of its season, featuring three major championships within the next six weeks. This stretch begins with the KPMG Women`s PGA Championship, set to tee off Thursday at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas.
South Korea`s Amy Yang is the reigning champion.
This tournament marks the final major championship held in the United States this year. Following the KPMG, the tour will head to France for The Amundi Evian Championship (July 10-13), and then to Wales for the AIG Women`s Open (July 31-Aug. 3).
Here are some of the key narratives to watch for in Frisco this week:
Can Nelly End Her Winless Spell?
A year ago, world No. 1 golfer Nelly Korda had already secured six victories before the KPMG Women`s PGA Championship, including her second major title at the Chevron Championship. She finished 2024 with seven wins after triumphing at The Annika in November.
However, she is still seeking her first win of the current season. While she hasn`t claimed a title, her performance has been strong, with four top-10 finishes in nine starts. Most recently, she tied for second place at last month`s U.S. Women`s Open in Wisconsin.
“Yeah, it`s golf,” Korda commented. “Every year is just so different. Last year coming into this event, I had [six] wins… It`s just golf. You kind of just have to ride the wave, and the competition is getting better and better every year. To win once, to win twice, it`s really good.”
Consistency has been rare at the top this season; there hasn`t been a repeat winner in the 15 LPGA Tour events held so far. Additionally, Japan`s Mao Siago and Sweden`s Maja Stark were first-time major champions at the Chevron Championship and U.S. Women`s Open, respectively.
Korda was a strong contender in the U.S. Women`s Open until the final holes, finishing at 5-under 283, two strokes behind Stark. Korda led the field in strokes gained off the tee (+1.82) and was fifth in approach shots (+1.67), but her putting ranked 52nd (-.42).
“I think it just makes you hungrier,” Korda stated. “For me, I hate making mistakes; obviously, I love winning. You don`t get to win often, but there`s nothing like being in contention, so I think that`s kind of what makes me hungrier to come back and to work harder and put myself into that position.”
She added, “At the end of the day, I did put myself into that position. I was still in contention and feeling the adrenaline rush on 18, trying to win a major championship. That`s the reason why I play this game, and I love it so much.”
Thitikul Targets World No. 1 Ranking
While Korda awaits her first win of the season, world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul has already achieved victories on both the Ladies European Tour (PIF Saudi Ladies International on Feb. 15) and the LPGA Tour (Mizuho Americas Open on May 11).
The 22-year-old is aiming for her first major championship this week. A victory would propel Thitikul, who hails from Thailand, even closer to surpassing Korda for the world No. 1 ranking. Thitikul was the 2022 LPGA Rookie of the Year and briefly held the top spot in the world ranking that same season.
Her best previous finish in a major was a solo fourth place at the 2022 KPMG Women`s PGA Championship held at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.
“Never thought I was going to reach No. 1 in the world when I was 19,” Thitikul reflected. “But now No. 2 in the world, I still feel the same how I put the work [in] because I feel like [no matter what number I am], my job is the same.”
Thitikul, who resides in the Dallas area, leads the LPGA Tour in strokes gained total (2.70) and is second in scoring average (69.1).
Her consistent play is highlighted by six top-10 finishes in 10 starts and missing only one cut, contributing significantly to her lead in the LPGA`s season-long points race.
“Every major I just want to make the cut, to be honest,” Thitikul admitted. “It would be really great to win it, and definitely I can tell that it would be like everyone`s dreams to win a major. To me, what I have now under my belt, I`m pretty happy with all I`ve achieved. If I can get it, it would be great, but if not, I don`t have anything to regret about.”
A New Course for the Women`s PGA Championship
This marks the first time the world`s leading women golfers will compete at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco, one of two courses located at the new headquarters of the PGA of America.
The course previously hosted the 2023 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in May 2023, where Steve Stricker defeated Padraig Harrington in a playoff, finishing with a 72-hole score of 18-under 270.
Designed by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, the course is scheduled to host the Women`s PGA Championship again in 2025 and 2031, and the men`s PGA Championship in 2027 and 2034.
“I feel like this kind of golf course, it`s dictated a lot by what time of the year you play,” observed three-time major champion Lydia Ko. “It`s not that firm and fast yet, and I think there may be a little bit of rain in the forecast. So I think the course is probably going to play a lot longer than maybe how the senior men played it a couple years ago.”
Forecasts suggest hot and dry conditions are likely after Thursday`s opening round, with highs in the low to mid-90s Fahrenheit and southerly winds blowing at 10-18 mph.
“I think it all plays pretty difficult depending on the wind,” Korda said. “All the par 5s are pretty much three-shot holes for me, so just dialing in. The downwind holes, I think are going to play probably the hardest just because it`s quite hard to hold the green. If you do hit it a little bit short with that fluffy Bermuda, it kind of just stays, so you can`t play for a run-up.”
Chasing Down Annika Sorenstam`s Records
At just 28 years old, Lydia Ko is already the youngest inductee into the LPGA Hall of Fame. Her career boasts 23 wins on the LPGA Tour, 38 victories worldwide, and an Olympic gold medal in women`s golf.
With one or two more wins, Ko could potentially surpass 10-time major champion Annika Sorenstam in career earnings on the LPGA Tour. Sorenstam achieved an impressive 72 wins and earned approximately $22.6 million before retiring after the 2008 season.
“In [a way], it`s unfair because she`s won 70-something times,” Ko commented. “I`m proud of my 23, and I`m hoping to have a few more by the time I`m done. We are just playing in a very different era.”
Ko has already accumulated around $20.8 million in earnings since turning professional in 2013.
“I think I`ve said multiple times in women`s golf and women`s sports in general, we`re just on such a high,” Ko stated. “I think it`s very fortunate in this generation to be able to ride it.”
She added, “I`m very lucky to be born in this era, so it`s kind of hard in the sense of being even compared to Annika, who has done much more than me. I think that`s why it`s our duty as players, or just the whole organization, to be able to keep growing it and give more opportunities for the future generations and the kids that are coming out here to watch us play.”
Emotional Moment for Stark
It has been a memorable couple of weeks for Maja Stark since she held off Nelly Korda and others to claim her first major victory at the U.S. Women`s Open at Erin Hills. The former Oklahoma State golfer is now ranked sixth in the world.
Stark took the following week off to fully absorb the significance of her win. She mentioned she didn`t cry after her own victory but did shed tears when she watched J.J. Spaun win the men`s U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club on Sunday with a dramatic 64½-foot putt on the final hole.
“I cried after J.J. Spaun won because I was so excited for him,” Stark shared. “Just like when you see the reaction and how happy he was, hearing he almost quit last year and just like him crying, finishing with two birdies and finishing in this fashion, that was just crazy.”
She concluded, “Seeing his kids, you know, hug him. That just makes me emotional for anyone. I`m just like a little crybaby.”
Jasper Hawthorne