The 18-time major champion participated in a putting contest with FOX News anchor Bret Baier.
Jack Nicklaus made a surprise visit at PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week on Sunday. The longtime North Palm Beach resident and 18-time major champion participated in a putting contest as well as a fireside chat with Fox News anchor Bret Baier.
Nicklaus, joined by his wife, Barbara, the 2019 winner of the PGA of America’s Distinguished Service Award, is a Trustee of The PGA of America REACH Foundation — which hosted 19 veterans and two veteran squad leaders from Oct. 10-14 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.
The veterans, graduates of their local PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) programs, participated in advanced golf instruction from PGA of America professionals and wellness training from the Cohen Veterans Network — covering topics such as social media, public speaking, stress management and mental health.
“Our veterans have given so much for this country, and some have paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom and safety, so it’s an honor, alongside Barbara, to continue to support them through PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week,” Nicklaus said in a statement. “Their courage, sacrifice and unwavering commitment are the true embodiment of our nation. Supporting our veterans isn’t just our duty, it’s a privilege we should all cherish.”
A $2 million commitment supporting PGA HOPE and the PGA of America REACH Foundation was made in Nicklaus’ honor from real estate investor and PGA of America REACH Foundation Trustee, David P. O’Connor.
According to a release, PGA HOPE, the flagship military program of the PGA of America REACH Foundation, is a six- to eight-week developmental curriculum taught by PGA of America Golf Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. The program introduces golf to veterans and active duty military to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.
The Ryder Cup was first contested in 1927 at Worcester Country Club in Worcester, Massachusetts.
The U.S. was captained by Walter Hagen and the Americans won 9 ½ to 2 ½.
In 2023, two years after getting routed 19-9 at Whistling Straits, the Europeans reclaimed the Ryder Cup, sweeping the first four matches on Thursday and riding a wave to a 16 ½ to 11 ½ victory.
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Future Ryder Cup sites have been announced through 2037.
The Ryder Cup shifted back to odd years starting in 2021.
Twenty veterans living with physical or cognitive challenges traveled to the nation’s capital for specialized golf and wellness training.
PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is a golf program that helps to rehabilitate veterans with the goal to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional feel being.
Every year PGA HOPE introduces the game of golf to 7,500 veterans at 215 venues across the country.
This year, 20 veterans living with physical or cognitive challenges such as TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and amputees traveled to the nation’s capital for specialized golf and wellness training.
Last week, the group of heroes played Congressional Country Club, host of the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Before the round, they participated in a program showcase and interview opportunities.
After their week was complete, the veterans became PGA HOPE Ambassadors, with a responsibility to serve as a champion for PGA HOPE in their home market.
Caddie Dean Herden’s unforgettable week at the KPMG Women’s PGA was noteworthy before his boss even hit a shot.
BETHESDA, Md. – Caddie Dean Herden’s unforgettable week at the KPMG Women’s PGA was noteworthy before his boss In Gee Chun even hit a shot in competition.
On Wednesday, a man was found shot to death at the Red Roof Inn in Rockville, Maryland, where Herden said he and about 20 other caddies were staying for the week. Herden said other caddies heard the shots, but he slept through it.
WUSA9 reported that Montgomery County Police found 39-year-old Javier Gonzalez-Mena around 11:30 p.m. Police say Gonzalez-Mena answered a knock on the door of his hotel room and was fatally shot. Two men were later arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Herden said while half the caddies found a new place for the rest of the week, he decided to stay on.
“It’s gotta be the safest place on earth,” he said. “Every time I left the hotel, there were two cop cars there.”
A month ago, when Chun came to Congressional for a practice round, Herden stayed at the Rockville Red Roof Inn about 20 minutes from the golf course. He thought the location and rate of $550 for the week was so great that he told the rest of the caddies about it in the group chat.
In Gee Chun celebrates with caddie Dean Herden after winning the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)
Herden, 58, has caddied for 30 years after playing professionally for six years on the Asian Tour and in Canada. He has been on the bag for 54 titles worldwide, including five majors.
This week’s wire-to-wire victory with Chun is their second together. Herden was on Chun’s bag when won she the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club.
Lexi Thompson closes with a 73 but In Gee Chun survives after going 75-75 over the weekend.
BETHESDA, Md. – In the shadow of the nation’s capital, the LPGA’s most tortured American star suffered heartbreak once more at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Eight years after Lexi Thompson won her first major, she fell just short of her second.
The golf world held its collective breath for a woman who has experienced more heartbreak inside the ropes than anyone in recent memory. Thompson hadn’t won in 50 starts on the LPGA, and her penchant for short missed putts – the kind of jab that looks like a kid next to a hot stove – haunted her down the stretch.
In Gee Chun opened with a course-record 64 at the KPMG Women’s PGA to storm out to a five-shot lead after the first round. By early Saturday, she was seven clear of the field.
But that near perfect play began to unravel late Saturday and Chun slept on – only – a three-stroke lead in pursuit of her third different major title. Chun became an LPGA member after winning the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open and then recorded the lowest 72-hole score in major championship history at the 2016 Amundi Evian Championship.
Shades of a runaway victory similar to Rory McIlroy’s at the 2011 U.S. Open covered Congressional until Sunday. Suddenly there was an anything-can-happen vibe with major champions Thompson, Hannah Green and Sei Young Kim within striking distance along with super rookies Hye-Jin Choi and Atthaya Thitikul.
Thompson struck fast, birdieing the first hole to cut the lead to two strokes and it wasn’t long before the American was in command as Chun came unraveled with a front-nine 40.
Thompson led by two with nine holes to play.
Lexi Thompson plays her shot from the fifth tee during the final round of the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports)
But the ghosts of short misses that have haunted her in pressure-packed moments came to visit on the back nine. A two-foot par putt on the 14th hole that never had a chance was the most egregious.
With Minjee Lee breathing down her back and the lead cut to one, Thompson poured in a statement birdie putt from just off the green on the 15th to push her lead to two with three to play.
A tournament that looked like the ending had been written at the halfway point suddenly had an endless supply of dramatic turns.
After a short miss for par on the 17th, Lee stuffed her approach on the 18th to post the clubhouse lead at 4 under.
Then Thompson made a mess of the par-5 16th, dropping four strokes with a series of miscues around the green to make bogey and fall into a tie with Chun at 5 under.
On the 18th, Thompson gave herself a birdie chance to tie Chun at 5 under, stuffing her approach to about 10 feet but Thompson didn’t hit a firm putt, leaving it short and right. She posted a final-round 73 to finish at 4 under.
Moments later, Chun had a four-footer for par for the championship and she made it to win her third different women’s major.
Chun shot 75-75 on the weekend yet pulled out the victory to break her 0-for-75 winless streak worldwide.
Thompson hasn’t won on the LPGA in her last 50 starts and hasn’t claimed a major title since 2014.
BETHESDA, Md. – In Gee Chun’s major romp at the KPMG Women’s PGA hit a speedbump when she was forced to take an unplayable on the par-5 16th that resulted in a double-bogey seven. After Chun’s lead swelled to seven on a blistering day outside the nation’s capital, she closed with only a three-shot advantage after a third-round 75 on Congressional’s Blue Course.
“If it’s going to be too easy, then I feel it is boring,” said Chun with that delightful smile.
Lexi Thompson, Sei Young Kim, who won this event in 2020, and Hye-Jin Choi share second at 5-under 211. Only two players – Jenny Shin (69) and Atthaya Thitikul (68) – broke 70 on a day when the scoring average was 73.59. The final group took 5 hours and 45 minutes to play.
“I found like they’ve put a few tricky pins out there,” said Hannah Green, the 2019 KPMG champ who trails by four. “You can’t really be too aggressive with the pins that they’ve put. If you go for it and it doesn’t work your way, you can easily make a bogey or a double.”
In Gee Chun of South Korea and her caddie Dean Herden look for her golf ball behind the 16th green during the third round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club on June 25, 2022, in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Chun, a two-time major champion who led by six after 36 holes, opened with a course-record 64 to take the early command at the first women’s professional event ever held at Congressional. After making it look so easy the first two rounds, Chun was pleased to make par on the last two holes.
“I’m so proud of myself because I hang in there after I had double bogey on 16,” said Chun.
Lexi Thompson of the United States signs her autograph for fans on the 18th green during the third round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club on June 25, 2022, in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Thompson hasn’t won on the LPGA in her last 50 starts and hasn’t claimed a major title since 2014, though she has come painfully close on several occasions. She’s playing with a renewed perspective since the loss of her grandmother, Mimi, in late May. She’s also playing inspired.
“She was my No. 1 supporter,” said Thompson. “It gives me the drive to be out here and do it for her.”
Thompson will be in the final group alongside Chun and Choi, a 22-year-old LPGA rookie who finished runner-up at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open as an amateur. She finished third at this year’s Women’s Open at Pine Needles.
Choi has veteran caddie Pete Godfrey on the bag, husband of longtime LPGA player Jane Park. Their daughter Grace began suffering seizures last summer that led to brain damage. More than $120,000 has been raised on a GoFundMe account as Park has stepped away from the tour to care for Grace.
The LPGA community can certainly come together like a family at times. This weekend, Chun and Kim, who are neighbors in Irving, Texas, will battle it out for another major title.
Kim was the first to move to the Los Colinas community, where the LPGA used to hold the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout. Chun bought the house next door to Kim in 2020 and Minjee Lee, winner of the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open, has a home there as well. Together, they have five majors between them.
Chun enjoys cooking dinner for her friends. Kim particularly enjoys her macaroni and cheese with tuna. Chun says she’s looking to up her game, though.
“I like to cook different type of rice with all the veggies or meat,” she said, “but recently I’m trying to find how I better cook for steak with all the different seasonings or oil.”
Lexi Thompson’s beloved grandmother died the week before the U.S. Women’s Open at the age of 92.
BETHESDA, Md. – Lexi Thompson blistered a drive down the par-4 17th on Congressional’s Blue Course to the flat area, leaving herself 102 yards for the approach. She took an extra club – her 50-degree wedge – to control the spin and relied on the crowd’s reaction to tell her the rest.
The roar said it all.
The ball zipped back to the hole and dropped in for eagle, the highlight of her 5-under 67 in Round 2 of the KPMG Women’s PGA. Though the divot that she watched fly down her shirt on the par-5 16th, as if it were in slow motion, was pretty hard to forget, too.
Thompson’s beloved grandmother, Dorothy Fischi – her biggest fan – died on May 23 of natural causes, the week before the U.S. Women’s Open, at the age of 92. When Thompson talks about how her mental approach to the game has changed over the course of this year, she’s talking about Mimi.
“She was my everything growing up,” said Thompson.
It was Mimi who often took Thompson and her brothers to the golf course. She was a staple at their tournaments and babysat often. Poached eggs on toast was Thompson’s favorite breakfast at Mimi’s house. She often sat on the floor as a kid to eat Oreos and milk, while Mimi sat behind her playing solitaire.
“Amazing memories,” said Thompson. “Those are the ones I’ll cherish.”
Dorothy Fischi had three children and worked for the New York Yankees for decades, selling tickets to spring training games in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Son Jimmy was her caretaker in later years. Thompson described her grandmother as the life of the party, and said neighbors liked to come over for a drink and a chat in her carport. Kids loved to come swim in the pool. Mimi could often be found working on a crossword puzzle.
“She was a firecracker,” said Thompson. “She loved golf like no other.”
Thompson is notoriously a hard worker, but when Mimi’s health took a turn for the worse, Thompson rushed to her Plantation, Florida, home with her own mother Judy. Practice, even leading into the U.S. Women’s Open, could wait.
“Being by her bedside with my mom for the last week and a half, bathing her and cleaning her,” said Thompson as tears welled up in her eyes, “it was the most painful thing.”
Yet, in the midst of grief, a feeling of gratefulness emerged, along with a new perspective. Now in her 11th year on the LPGA, the 27-year-old has realized that being so hard on herself, particularly at the majors, wasn’t working.
“Growing up with two older brothers, playing older age divisions, I never dealt with just being average,” she said. “I never wanted to be, and I always wanted to be better each and every time I woke up and went to the golf course. I always had a mission in mind, which I still do.
“If I have a bad day, it’s not the end of the world. Still a blessing just to be even out here.”
Thompson owns 11 LPGA titles, including one major. But that major title came in 2014, and her last LPGA victory was three years ago at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
At 3 under for the tournament through two rounds, Thompson has her work cut out to catch a sizzling In Gee Chun, who shot a first-round 64.
Thompson can still hear Mimi say “Go get ’em!” before a big round.
“It just seems like yesterday she was at CME watching us in her little scooter,” said Thompson. “I know she’s with me.”
Thursday was already tough, but Emma Talley’s day got tougher after she damaged her putter.
BETHESDA, Md. – Emma Talley often hits her left foot with her putter. Not hard enough to break a toe. Just enough to let out a little steam, coupled with a “Gosh, dang it.”
On Thursday at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, a day that was already tough by any standard on Congressional’s Blue Course, Talley’s got tougher when she struck her foot with the putter after a short missed putt on the sixth hole and damaged her club.
“It was a freak accident,” said Talley, who said the club had probably weakened over time. While Rule 4.1a(2) says that regardless of the nature of what caused the damage, the damaged club can be treated as conforming for the rest of the round, Talley instead pulled out her 58-degree wedge to replace her putter.
The former U.S. Women’s Amateur and NCAA champion played her last four holes in 3 over, finishing at 6-over 78. The tears flowed during and after the round. Talley said she felt both frustrated and embarrassed.
“Obviously you want to shed light when you’re out here,” said Talley. “If they didn’t see what happened, they’d probably think I snapped it over my leg.”
The soft-spoken In Gee Chun, a two-time major champ, put together one of the most dominant rounds in recent memory.
BETHESDA, Md. – The last time Congressional Country Club hosted a major championship, Rory McIlroy blistered the field by eight strokes at the 2011 U.S. Open.
More than a decade later, In Gee Chun might deliver a similar master class.
The soft-spoken South Korean, a two-time major champion, put together one of the most dominant rounds in recent memory, carding nine birdies en route to a course record of 8-under 64. The Blue Course, which has hosted five previous majors, recently underwent a complete renovation.
Only six other players in the morning wave broke par, and all six shot 1-under 71. World No. 2 Nelly Korda was among them and was quite pleased with the round, given how long the course played. When Chun walked off the course, the scoring average was 76.01.
Congressional received two inches of rain overnight and early groups played in 10 or more holes in the rain Thursday morning on what turned into a slow grind. Inbee Park expected several tees to be moved up given the soft conditions but said the actual yardage of 6,809 yards felt more like 7,200, calling it “a beast.”
“I am one of the longer hitters on tour,” said Korda. “It was long.”
After coming to the course early for a preview last week, Chun decided to put a 7-wood in the bag. Caddie Dean Herden said she hit it four times Thursday and flushed it every time, leaving herself nothing more than 10 feet.
Chun took only 25 putts and notched nine birdies on the day. Herden noted that the performance reminded him of when Chun won the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club, the first time they ever worked together. The only shot she missed all day at Congressional, he said, was a thinned 9-iron on the eighth.
In Gee Chun stands with her caddie during the first round of the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)
Chun, who is trying to enjoy herself more inside the ropes, said conversations with Herden that don’t involve golf help keep her relaxed.
“We talk about my pimple on my lip,” she said, laughing. “So I bit, like, one time before, and then it got bigger and bigger, so I bit more than five times.
“Then we talk about the kiwis because I love to eat kiwis on the course. Especially it’s really tough to find a good kiwi from the supermarket. Luckily, we have a good Korean supermarket near here, so I got a good gold kiwi from there.”
While Chun was able to keep things light, everything about the day felt heavy to most. The par-5 ninth, at 587 yards uphill and into the wind and rain, required long-bombing Brooke Henderson to hit driver, 3-wood, hybrid. She called it the longest par 5 of her life.
Nelly Korda found herself hitting 5-irons into par 4s, noting that Park couldn’t even reach the par-4 fourth with her 3-wood.
“Some of those pins today were brutal,” said Korda. “I think because they thought it was going to play soft, I think they were going to kind of trick out with some of the pin positions. I think they were going to put them on the ridges and make them a little harder, which it did.”
Hannah Green plays her shot from the 11th tee during the first round of the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports)
Hannah Green, the 2019 KPMG champ, has picked up 11 yards of carry in recent years and said had she not, she probably would’ve shot 3 over par – at best.
Instead, a longer Green shot 1 under despite hitting 5-wood in for her third shot into the ninth and a couple of hybrids into par 4s and par 3s.
“It has made a big difference,” she said.
Jennifer Kupcho, who won the first major as well as the Meijer LPGA Classic in a playoff last week, worked out a tweak in her driver by standing closer to the ball. She hit all 14 fairways in Round 1 to shoot 1 under.
“I feel like I played really well,” said Kupcho. “The course is really hard. I don’t really know how In Gee is 8 under right now.”
The club, which was established in 1924, is hosting its first women’s professional major.
The third major of the LPGA’s 2022 season is the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at historic Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.
The club, which was established in 1924, has hosted several men’s majors but this will be the first women’s professional major there.
Originally designed by Deveneau Emmet, the course hosted the 1949 U.S. Junior Amateur, the 1959 U.S. Women’s Amateur, the 1964 U.S. Open, the 1976 PGA Championship, the 1995 U.S. Senior Open and the 2011 U.S. Open, which was won by Rory McIlroy.
Just ahead of the KPMG, the PGA of America, KPMG and the LPGA announced a big bump in the purse for the 2022 tournament, doubling it to $9 million.
Take a look at some of the best photos of the week.
