Tag: KPMG Women’s PGA

Initially denied locker room access at Baltusrol, In Gee Chun ready to defend at KPMG Women’s PGA

Incredibly, 75 percent of Chun’s LPGA titles are majors.

SPRINGFIELD, N.J. — In Gee Chun won her third major title last year at the KPMG Women’s PGA, but that doesn’t mean she has the run of the place this week at Baltusrol Golf Club. Chun was denied access to the women’s locker room Wednesday morning after leaving her tournament-specific credential in her golf bag, which was with her caddie.

Chun tried showing her LPGA player badge to the security official but that wasn’t enough.

“But I’m sure I’m player,” Chun pleaded.

Right about then another person looking after the locker room came and out and identified Chun as the defending champion. The humble Chun was all smiles about the mishap as she was prompted by an LPGA official to relay the story to the media.

Chun, 28, is one of only three players in the field this week with three or more major titles. Anna Nordqvist (3) and Laura Davies (4) are the only other players with such a stout major resume. Incredibly, 75 percent of Chun’s LPGA titles are majors.

2022 KPMG Women's PGA Championship
In Gee Chun celebrates with the championship trophy after winning the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

Chun’s first victory on the LPGA came at the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 2016, she won the Evian Championship with a score of 21 under, the lowest winning score for a men’s or women’s major. Last year, she clipped Lexi Thompson and Minjee Lee by one stroke at the first women’s major held at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.

HOW TO WATCH: 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA

After representing South Korea in the Hanwha International Crown last month, Chun flew back to Korea to see her doctor about the inflammation in her back. She took some time off to rest and then went to work on strengthening her core. Chun returned to the LPGA last week at the Meijer LPGA Classic after a month-long break and reports that she didn’t feel any pain on the course. She’s reduced her pain medicine from twice a day to once.

“It just feels a little sometimes stiff and heavy,” she said, “but once I play golf on the course, it’s no problem.”

Chun tees off with Danielle Kang and Hannah Green at 8:17 a.m. ET on Thursday morning.

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KPMG: Atlanta Athletic Club’s sixth hole, once a beast, now drivable and gettable for final round

The par-4 sixth hole at KPMG Women’s PGA has a bit of a split identity. One day it gives; the next day it takes.

JOHNS CREEK, Georgia – The par-4 sixth hole at Atlanta Athletic Club’s Highlands Course has a bit of a split identity. One day it gives; the next day it takes.

For the second time this week, the tees on No. 6 have been moved up, making it drivable and an intriguing risk/reward option.

The club agreed to add a new tee box for the KPMG Women’s PGA so that the women could be presented with the same option as the men at the 2011 PGA Championship. With a back-right hole location on the 246-yard hole Sunday, many players will be primed to take on the risk with water on the left and bunkers guarding the green.

“When I was here 18 months ago,” said PGA of America Chief Championship Officer Kerry Haigh, “we talked about it and shared with the club, and they were excited because they’ll be able to use it for their membership day in, day out, and it’s certainly – it makes you think. Do you lay up short of the lake, which is really not much club at all? Or do you go for it? There’s plenty of room to the right to bail out but then it’s a really tough chip if you do miss it right, but obviously you’re rewarded with a birdie or eagle if you’re straight.

“It should be fun to watch.”

KPMG Women’s PGA: Leaderboard | Photos

The hole played 376 yards in Round 1 and ranked the most difficult with a 4.583 scoring average. It ranked the second-hardest in Round 3 with a 4.457 average. The field made a combined five birdies over the course of two rounds.

On Friday, however, the tee was moved up to 229 yards and tied with the second hole as the 16th easiest hole of the day. There were 53 birdies and five eagles in the second round. Seventeen players made bogey and four players made double or worse.

Big-hitting Jessica Korda chose not to go for the green on Friday while Inbee Park hit driver long and then chipped in for eagle.

“I think it was in a pretty smart setup,” said Park. “It was probably maybe not a driver for a lot of the girls, and we definitely had to think about it, laying up, as well, with the water on the left. If you’re on the borderline of the cut line, if you’re ahead of the field a lot, you have to think about yourself.”

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