Tag: Megan Khang

Watch: Caddies pull shirts off in fairway after Alison Lee holes out at Solheim Cup

Things really came to a boil early when American Alison Lee holed out.

Emotions are running hot at the 2024 Solheim Cup, where the United States cruised out to a 6-2 lead after the opening day of play, and maintained that edge after splitting foursomes on Saturday morning.

But things really came to a boil early in the afternoon session when American Alison Lee holed out from the second fairway in her match. Lee and Megan Khang were taking on the European duo of Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom.

After Lee dunked her shot from 86 yards away, the caddies went wild, inciting the crowd by pulling off their shirts and hugging while the fans cheered.

The two sides tied at last year’s Solheim Cup, leading to Team Europe retaining the cup. The U.S. leads the all-time series 10-7-1.

Minjee Lee, Megan Khang keeping their eyes on the prize through tough ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open conditions

“It’s kind of crazy. I’m aiming 30, 40 yards right of the pin.”

They needed to play catch-up at Dundonald Links on Thursday. In fact, the organizers just about required a couple of snookers to get the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open back on track after Thursday’s meteorological muddle, when heavy rains soaked the course.

We’re getting there, though. As for Minjee Lee and Megan Khang? Well, it’s a case of catch us if you can. Lee, the 28-year-old Australian, pinched the first-round lead on Thursday in the near darkness. On Friday, she was home and dry at a more civilized hour.

A three-under 69, which included a finishing flourish of two birdies at 17 and 18, cemented her position at the top of the order. 

She was joined at the summit later in the evening by Khang, who picked up a birdie on her closing hole en route to a four-under 68.

Lee, whose brother Min Woo won the men’s Scottish Open back in 2021, has dropped only one shot in 36 holes. In the robust conditions this week, that’s a fine effort.

Last year, Lee began her Dundonald campaign with a potentially ruinous 80 but then reeled off three rounds in the 60s during the kind of mighty salvage operation that raised the Mary Rose. The two-time major winner is now 22-under for her last five rounds in this neck of the woods.

More of the same will do over the weekend. “Obviously, I would love to win,” said Lee, who was pipped to the Scottish title by a shot when it was played at Gullane in 2018.

“I’m just going to do what I can control. I can’t control what other people are doing. I’ll just try my very best. If that happens to be a win, then great.”

Khang packed six birdies into her round as the American Solheim Cup player fortified her position on the leaderboard.

With the wind whipping over the links, Khang certainly enjoyed the challenge. “It’s not often I’m hitting a 7-iron to a 116-yard pin,” she said of this very different style of golf.

“It’s kind of crazy. I’m aiming 30, 40 yards right of the pin and to be able to pull off a shot, it’s a huge confidence boost. You just laugh, like wow, I can’t believe that actually worked sometimes. And so just having a mindset, all right, let’s really trust it and have some fun. Sometimes it can work out and sometimes it doesn’t. I’m trying to tell myself that if I can at least do everything I can to hit the shot I picture, I really can’t be too upset.”

Meanwhile, England’s Charley Hull is right in the thick of it heading into the weekend after following up her opening 70 with a 68 to lurk just two shots off the pace on six-under.

Starting on the 10th, Hull enjoyed a lively little burst around the turn and birdied the 17th and eagled the 18th after her approach trundled to within 15 feet of the pin. Two more birdies at the first and third bolstered her assault.

Hull warmed up for this week’s domestic showpiece down the road at Turnberry. She even declared that The Open and some of the big women’s events should head back to the storied Ailsa links.

Of course, with Donald Trump’s name on the entry gates, there’s more chance of The Open being staged on the outer rings of Saturn. 

Hull’s Turnberry tune-up has certainly stood her in good stead, though.

With the AIG Women’s Open coming up next week at the Old Course, Hull is getting into the links swing again.

“I love links golf but I find it hard to play in,” said Hull, who is looking to capture a third LPGA Tour title. “I feel like my game is more built for America. 

“But over the last few weeks, my coach and I have been working on doing more three-quarter swings so I can do a low-ball flight for the (Women’s) Open. It is actually paying off.”

Lydia Ko, the newly crowned Olympic champion, harnessed the conditions to fine effect as she joined Hull and American, Lauren Coughlin, on the six-under mark after a 69.

“I can’t remember the last time I’ve had to hit a 3-wood on a par 3,” smiled Ko of the club she had to clatter into the wind on the fourth. 

“I hit a 5-iron yesterday and today I hit a 3-wood and it landed just pin-high. The number goes out of the window in the wind.”

It wasn’t a good day for the home hopefuls. Only three were in the field and they’re all out now. Gemma Dryburgh, who was desperate for a good week to boost her Solheim Cup ambitions, missed the cut on seven-over after a 75.

Her fellow Aberdonian, Laura Beveridge, also departed on 13-over after a turbulent 83 while Glasgow’s Kylie Henry joined the casualty list on 11-over although she at least shaved 11 shots off her first-round 83 with a spirited 72 in round two. There’s always a bit of pride to play for.

LPGA players revealed their favorite swings on tour — and one name kept coming up

It’s tough to beat Nelly’s.

At the LPGA Drive On Championship last week, the first full-field event of the season on tour, Golfweek asked several players to name their favorite swing on tour (outside of their own). Not surprisingly, one name kept popping up – Nelly Korda.

The hometown favorite would go on to win her ninth LPGA career title in a playoff against Lydia Ko in Bradenton, Florida. Danish player Nanna Koerstz Madsen even noted that she has used videos of Korda’s swing in the past to help her get into certain positions.

The No. 2 player in the world wasn’t the only name mentioned, of course. Here are the favorites:

Photos: Lexi Thompson, Lilia Vu, Annika Sorenstam and more LPGA stars walk green carpet at Rolex Awards

The annual event is one of the highlights of the week at the CME, which is held in Naples, Florida.

With the season-ending 2023 CME Group Tour Championship winner upon us, LPGA stars walked the green carpet at the annual Rolex Awards banquet at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort.

Among those in attendance were world No. 1 Lilia Vu and No. 2 Ruoning Yin, 2023 U.S. Women’s Open champ Allisen Corpuz, LPGA stars Lexi Thompson and Brooke Henderson as well as World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam.

The annual event is one of the highlights of the week at the CME, which is held in Naples, Florida, at Tiburon Golf Club. The top 60 golfers in the season-long standings compete for a $7 million purse. Celine Boutier and Vu entered the tournament at 1 and 2 in the standings.

Here’s a look at some of those who walked the green carpet (all photos provided by Jonah Hinebaugh for Naples Daily News):

How each American, European player fared at the 2023 Solheim Cup in Spain

Three players went unbeaten over the three days but only one earned 4 points over the five sessions.

CASARES, Spain — The 2023 Solheim Cup couldn’t have been closer.

The 18th edition of the biennial bash between the United States and Europe was all square at 8-8 entering Sunday singles, and after the final 12 matches – five won by the both teams and two ties – the competition ended in a 14-14 tie, and the Europeans retained the Cup.

In the event’s 23-year history, the Americans have taken home the trophy on 10 occasions, with the Europeans earning the other eight. Team Europe hasn’t lost since 2017 in Iowa.

Spain’s Carlota Ciganda was the only player to score four points this week (4-0-0) and was one of four players who went unbeaten, joining Gemma Dryburgh (0-0-2), Megan Khang (3-0-1) and Cheyenne Knight (2-0-1). Two players went winless for each team, but only one failed to earn a point.

Here’s a breakdown of how each player fared this week by event at the 2023 Solheim Cup.

MORE: Sunday singles results | Best shots | Crazy fans

European records

Player Overall (W-L-T) Singles (W-L-T) Foursomes (W-L-T) Fourball (W-L-T)
Celine Boutier 0-3-0 0-1-0 0-2-0 0-0-0
Charley Hull 1-2-0 0-1-0 0-1-0 1-0-0
Linn Grant 3-2-0 0-1-0 1-1-0 2-0-0
Georgia Hall 1-2-1 0-0-1 0-2-0 1-0-0
Leona Maguire 3-2-0 1-0-0 0-2-0 2-0-0
Carlota Ciganda 4-0-0 1-0-0 1-0-0 2-0-0
Anna Nordqvist 1-3-0 1-0-0 0-2-0 0-1-0
Maja Stark 2-1-1 1-0-0 1-1-0 0-0-1
Madelene Sagstrom 1-1-1 0-1-0 0-0-0 1-0-1
Gemma Dryburgh 0-0-2 0-0-1 0-0-0 0-0-1
Emily Pedersen 2-2-1 0-1-0 1-1-0 1-0-1
Caroline Hedwall 1-1-0 1-0-0 0-0-0 0-1-0

American records

Player Overall (W-L-T) Singles (W-L-T) Foursomes (W-L-T) Fourball (W-L-T)
Lilia Vu 1-3-0 1-0-0 0-1-0 0-2-0
Nelly Korda 2-2-0 0-1-0 2-0-0 0-1-0
Allisen Corpuz 2-1-1 0-1-0 2-0-0 0-0-1
Megan Khang 3-0-1 1-0-0 2-0-0 0-0-1
Lexi Thompson 3-1-0 1-0-0 2-0-0 0-1-0
Jennifer Kupcho 0-2-1 0-1-0 0-1-0 0-0-1
Ally Ewing 1-3-0 0-1-0 1-0-0 0-2-0
Rose Zhang 0-3-1 0-1-0 0-0-0 0-1-1
Danielle Kang 2-2-0 1-0-0 1-1-0 0-1-0
Angel Yin 2-1-0 1-0-0 0-0-0 1-1-0
Andrea Lee 1-2-1 0-0-1 1-1-0 0-1-0
Cheyenne Knight 2-0-1 0-0-1 1-0-0 1-0-0

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2023 Solheim Cup Friday morning foursomes pairings feature struggling Lexi Thompson out first

World No. 2 Lilia Vu is on the bench for the opening matches, as is rising star Rose Zhang.

CASARES, Spain — The opening tee shots of the 2023 Solheim Cup are just hours away and the first group of pairings have officially been announced.

Friday morning’s foursomes pairings and matches at Finca Cortesin on Spain’s southern coast were released during the opening ceremony Thursday night at nearby Marbella Arena, with none other than U.S. star Lexi Thompson, who has struggled this year, set to take the first swing alongside Megan Khang against European and Swedish rookies, Linn Grant and Maja Stark.

Notably on the bench for the American side are world No. 2 Lilia Vu, who won two major championships this season, as well as rising star Rose Zhang, who has a penchant for match play.

“I wanted to get off to a good start. I wanted to get out four really good pairings and that’s kind of been my focus this whole time,” said U.S. captain Stacy Lewis. “So it was more about who matched up together versus even — I didn’t even look at who was sitting, to be honest. I wasn’t even worried about who was sitting. It was more just what are my best four options.”

“For my sake, I feel like I’ve had these four pairings down on paper for quite a few months now,” added European captain Suzann Pettersen. “It was more like in what order do you play ’em.”

Check out the four matches and pairings, as well as the eight players who will ride the pine pony for the first session of matches at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Note: Spain is six hours ahead of Eastern Time in the U.S.)

MEET THE TEAMS: Europe | USA

With the pressure off, Megan Khang is enjoying ‘The Ultimatum’ in Portland

If Khang is going through her own version of the show this week, she’s certainly passing with flying colors.

As you might expect, after grinding through nearly 200 starts on the LPGA before earning her first victory last weekend in Vancouver at the CPKC Women’s Open, Megan Khang needed to exhale a bit this week while settling into her surroundings at the Portland Classic.

Khang is rooming with Nelly Korda, who surprised her friend with balloons at the house, but other than the original celebration, the Massachusetts product has laid low all week, sneaking in nightly episodes of the Netflix show “The Ultimatum.” The show, hosted by Nick Lachey and his wife Vanessa, is something of a social experiment, seeing how individuals react when being thrown into new situations.

If Khang is going through her own version of the show this week, learning how to play with an LPGA title under her belt, she’s certainly passing with flying colors.

On Friday, Khang fired her second straight 66 at Columbia Edgewater Country Club and she went to the clubhouse alone atop the leaderboard after 36 holes, poised to double her win total after finally opening the floodgates.

Khang closed the day with a bogey, her first of the tournament, but the round was still good enough to put her in prime position at the midway point. She coasted into the media tent after the round with the poise of a winner, although she insisted the final hole helped to keep her in check.

“Honestly I think it’s just I feel kind of mellowed out because I bogeyed the last hole. No one likes bogeying the last, but definitely gives you something more to work on,” she said. “It’s been kind of like a long week it feels like, but overall I think I’ve kind of just come to this week kind of going, hey, my game is in a good place. Mentally a little tired, but sometimes that can be a good thing. Just not over-exhausting myself out there and take it one shot at time and relax when I can out there. It’s a long week.”

Among those pushing Khang is Madelene Sagstrom, who missed the cut in four of her previous five starts. While Khang has posted consecutive rounds of 66, Sagstrom has back-to-back 67s and sits just two strokes behind the leader.

“I must say I just really haven’t made any mistakes. I’ve been keeping it in play. I haven’t really had my ‘A’ game coming in here. I’ve been struggling a little bit on the course,” Sagstrom said. “So we kind of set up a little different game plan this week. Just trying to hit the fairway however it gets there and just go more center of the green. I think that is more how I was playing last year and it seems to be working.

“Giving myself some good chances. Took them when I needed to. Really just haven’t made too many mistakes.”

As for Khang’s approach for the weekend, it’s about as exciting as social calendar this week.

“It’s going to sound like a broken record, fairways and greens, and we’ll see how the course dries out,” she said. “We’ll see where we stand and just kind of take it from there.”

And as for her new Netflix fix, why is she hooked?

“It’s so dramatic and it’s wicked funny,” she said.

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Nelly Korda surprised Megan Khang after her first LPGA win (and now she’s shining in Portland)

Knowing she was sharing a house with Khang this week for the Portland Classic, Korda planned a surprise.

With eight wins on the LPGA and three more on the Ladies European Tour, Nelly Korda knows a thing or two about celebrating victories. So when her dear friend Megan Khang finally broke through and earned her first victory last week at the CPKC Women’s Open in her 191st career start, Korda thought a special celebration was in order.

Knowing she was sharing a house with Khang this week for the Portland Classic, Korda planned a surprise for her friend’s room to go along with a gift sent by Khang’s boyfriend.

“I came to this week a little late and I’m sharing the house with Nelly,” Khang explained, “and she was showing me my room and totally caught me off guard. She had balloons done for my room and my boyfriend had sent flowers.

“I had no idea that was going to happen. I think I like cried for the first time. I was like, ‘Wow, this is crazy,’ and it really hit.”

After enjoying a little celebration with her friend, however, it was back to business on Thursday for Korda at Columbia Edgewater Country Club as she finished the day with three straight birdies to get to 7 under, just two shots behind leader Perrine Delacour after the opening round of play.

Thursday brought a little rain, but that didn’t impact Korda, who had birdies on the day to go with just one bogey.

“I think the golf course is just in general playing a little softer than it was last year. I just knew with the amount of rain we were getting throughout the day that I could just be a little bit more aggressive,” Korda said. “So making sure that I was flying to the right numbers and taking dead aim at flags was possible.

“I think (the rain is) good. It boosts your confidence in a sense when you’re hitting it good. Obviously, it’s tough to play in the rain and there is a lot more going on, as in trying to stay dry and it’s a little bit more hectic, but overall it didn’t really dump on us. It stayed consistent throughout the day.”

Korda didn’t touch a club for several weeks this spring after lower back pain resulted in a forced break. When the 25-year-old returned to work, it was with a new swing instructor, Jason Baile, the director of instruction at Jupiter Hills Club in Florida. She hasn’t won since returning, but she’s playing well with two top-11 finishes in the most recent majors, the Amundi Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s Open can attest.

“It’s been an interesting time since my injury. You know, I came back — I played really well before it, and then when I came back it was very hard to get into the groove of things,” Korda said. “I came back to pretty much four majors in a row, so definitely tough golf courses, firm golf courses where it’s kind of hard to get your confidence back.

“But one step at a time I think. I’m pushing in the right direction.”

With the Solheim Cup right around the corner, Korda is concerned with fine-tuning her game, but her focus is solely on playing well in Portland.

This will be Korda’s third appearance at the biennial event against the Europeans and has a 5-2-1 record in her previous starts. But that’s in the future.

“I’m just really focusing on this week, and once I get to that week I’ll focus on that week,” she said. “I’m just trying to take it one round at time, play some consistent golf, and hopefully I can take that into Spain.”

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2023 CPKC Women’s Open prize money payouts for each LPGA player

Khang earned $375,000 after winning in Vancouver.

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The 2023 CPKC Women’s Open is the last chance for players to qualify for the U.S. Solheim Cup team. Four Americans – Megan Khang, Lilia Vu, Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz – have already automatically qualified.

That allowed winning on the LPGA for the first time to be the sole focus for Khang, who finally broke through Sunday in her 191st start.

She needed a playoff to defeat Jin Young Ko, and Khang earned $375,000 in first-place money in Vancouver at Shaughnessy Golf Club & Country Club. That puts her over $1.3 million in earnings this season and has her closing in on $5.5 million for her career.

Check out the full list of prize money payouts for each LPGA player at the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open.

Position Golfer Score Earnings
1 Megan Khang -9 $375,000
2 Jin Young Ko -9 $232,029
3 Ruoning Yin -7 $168,321
T4 Hannah Green -6 $117,507
T4 Sei Young Kim -6 $117,507
T6 Lauren Coughlin -5 $78,761
T6 Linn Grant -5 $78,761
T8 In Gee Chun -4 $56,954
T8 Jodi Ewart Shadoff -4 $56,954
T8 Yuka Saso -4 $56,954
T11 Jeongeun Lee5 -3 $46,049
T11 Georgia Hall -3 $46,049
T13 Nasa Hataoka -2 $38,110
T13 Brooke Henderson -2 $38,110
T13 Andrea Lee -2 $38,110
T13 Mi Hyang Lee -2 $38,110
T17 Allisen Corpuz -1 $32,267
T17 Arpichaya Yubol -1 $32,267
T19 Lucy Li E $29,218
T19 Gabriela Ruffels E $29,218
T19 Linnea Strom E $29,218
T22 Lauren Stephenson 1 $23,006
T22 Ally Ewing 1 $23,006
T22 Alexa Pano 1 $23,006
T22 Minjee Lee 1 $23,006
T22 Celine Boutier 1 $23,006
T22 Lilia Vu 1 $23,006
T22 Patty Tavatanakit 1 $23,006
T22 Karis Davidson 1 $23,006
T22 Hye-Jin Choi 1 $23,006
T22 Jeongeun Lee6 1 $23,006
T32 Nanna Koerstz Madsen 2 $17,308
T32 Xiyu Lin 2 $17,308
T32 Bianca Pagdanganan 2 $17,308
T32 Nelly Korda 2 $17,308
T36 Alena Sharp 3 $14,380
T36 Wichanee Meechai 3 $14,380
T36 Ayaka Furue 3 $14,380
T36 Hyo Joo Kim 3 $14,380
T36 Jennifer Kupcho 3 $14,380
T41 Hae Ran Ryu 4 $10,882
T41 Rose Zhang 4 $10,882
T41 Lauren Hartlage 4 $10,882
T41 Alison Lee 4 $10,882
T41 Cheyenne Knight 4 $10,882
T41 Ariya Jutanugarn 4 $10,882
T41 Carlota Ciganda 4 $10,882
T41 Angel Yin 4 $10,882
T41 Maja Stark 4 $10,882
T50 Hinako Shibuno 5 $8,765
T50 Pauline Roussin 5 $8,765
T52 Jaravee Boonchant 6 $8,003
T52 Yealimi Noh 6 $8,003
T52 Ruixin Liu 6 $8,003
T52 Pavarisa Yoktuan 6 $8,003
T56 Jennifer Chang 7 $7,114
T56 Bailey Tardy 7 $7,114
T56 Yu Liu 7 $7,114
T59 Danielle Kang 8 $6,183
T59 Weiwei Zhang 8 $6,183
T59 Celine Borge 8 $6,183
T59 Amanda Doherty 8 $6,183
T59 Christina Kim 8 $6,183
T59 Gabriella Then 8 $6,183
T65 Jing Yan 9 $5,653
T65 Perrine Delacour 9 $5,653
67 Pernilla Lindberg 11 $5,463
T68 Min Lee 12 $5,208
T68 Jasmine Suwannapura 12 $5,208
T68 Brianna Do 12 $5,208
71 Lydia Ko 13 $5,019

 

Megan Khang wins for first time on LPGA at 2023 CPKC Women’s Open in Canada

“I’m pumped to finally get the first one,” she said.

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Jin Young Ko was four shots back heading into the final round the Cognizant Founders Cup in May. She would go on to win there, which is tied for the largest comeback on the LPGA this season.

To start the final round of the CPKC Women’s Open in Canada on Sunday, Ko was five shots back of leader Megan Khang. Was another large come-from-behind win in the making?

On the 18th hole, Ko missed the green left with her approach but got up-and-down for par to finish at 9 under, good for the clubhouse lead.

Moments later, Khang, who was at 8 under after a bogey on No. 17, had her best shot of the week, stuffing her second shot on the challenging closing hole to about five feet. There had been only four birdies all day on the 18th hole and Khang needed to make the fifth in order to force a playoff.

Seeking her first LPGA win in her 191st career start, Khang then calmly poured in the putt to post a 2-over 74 and get into her first career playoff.

On the first playoff hole, Ko teed off first but pulled her tee shot left. Khang striped hers down the middle of the fairway, then hit an approach similar to the one she had in regulation, her ball rolling a little farther and nestling just into the fringe. Ko’s third shot, meanwhile, found a greenside bunker and after blasting out, she faced a 40-footer for bogey but missed, and ended up taking a 6 on the hole.

That set the stage for Khang, who putted from the fringe to about a foot before holing out for par to seal the deal on her first LPGA victory.

“My game has kind of been trending and has matured in the last couple of years,” she told Golf Channel on the 18th green moments after winning. “It was juts a matter of time.”

Khang, already locked into a Solheim Cup spot for the U.S. team, said she spoke with other members of that squad who have tasted victory for some inspiration.

“I’m pumped to finally get the first one,” she said.

Khang is the ninth first-time winner on the LPGA in 2023. She earned $375,000 for the win.

Canadian favorite Brooke Henderson finished tied for 13th. Alexa Pano, who won her first LPGA title last week, tied for 22nd. Nelly Korda shot a pair of 75s over the weekend and tied for 32nd. Lydia Ko shot 82 on Saturday and finished at 13 over and in last place of all the golfers who made the cut.

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