– The 70th edition of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the second oldest Major in women’s golf behind the US Open, kicks off this Thursday. The first edition took place in 1955 and was won by Beverly Hanson. It was the only one decided in match play format. She defeated Louise Suggs by 4 and 3.
– Mickey Wright is the golfer with the most victories in this Major. She amassed a total of four (1958, 1960, 1961 and 1963). With three titles are Inbee Park and Annika Sorenstam.
– In 69 editions, only seven victories have been achieved by European golfers. Sorenstam won three times, Laura Davies twice, and Suzann Pettersen and Anna Nordqvist once each. The last European triumph was Nordqvist’s in 2009. It’s been a while.
– The Sahalee Country Club in Sammawish, in the state of Washington, near Seattle, is the venue this week. It hosts the tournament for the second time. The first was in 2016, with a victory by Brooke Henderson, who was then 18 years old and defeated Lydia Ko in the playoff.
– Sahalee opened its doors in 1969 with a design by Ted Robinson. It was completely renovated in 1996 by Rees Jones. It is a course nestled in a magnificent cedar forest. The trees that guard the fairways are the main defence. It has over 7,500 trees, some of which are over 45 metres in length. They definitely come into play.
– The big difference compared to 2016 is that it is played as a par 72, whereas eight years ago it was a par 71. The 18th hole, which was then played as a long par 4, will be a generous par 5 this week. In 2016, the tournament was won with -6 and there were seven golfers under par at the end of the tournament. Good weather is expected, perhaps with some rain on Sunday, but hardly any wind. The winning score is expected to be around -10, although this will depend on the hardness of the greens.
– There are five holes where water comes into play, always on shots to the green. On three par 3s (5, 9 and 17), on the par 5 of the 2nd, which will add tension to those seeking the green, and on the 10th, a par 4.
– In 2016, there were four Spanish women in the tournament. The best placed was Bea Recari, in 22nd place, followed by Azahara Muñoz, who finished thirtieth. Belén Mozo and Carlota Ciganda missed the cut. This year we have two representatives: Carlota and Azahara. Hats off to the careers of the two Spaniards.
– The Women’s PGA Championship underwent an extraordinary transformation in 2015, just when KPMG became the main sponsor. Since then, its prize fund has increased by 360 percent. It has gone from 2.25 million to 10.4 million in total. This year’s winner will take home 1.56 million dollars. The purse has increased by 400,000 dollars compared to 2023. It is also the most technological women’s Major, with the best and most comprehensive shot tracker.
– Last year, the Chinese golfer Ruoning Yin won. It was her first Major. She hit all the greens in the third and fourth rounds: 36 out of 36. It was played at Baltusrol and Carlota Ciganda finished in third place with an outstanding weekend. She signed two cards of 69 and 64 strokes.
– The tournament features the top 25 players in the world. The most notable absence is In Gee Chun due to injury. The PGA of America, the entity that organises the tournament, has invited Bronte Law, the current leader of the Ladies European Tour order of merit.
– It is the third women’s Major of the season after the Chevron, won by Nelly Korda, and the US Open, won by Yuka Saso. There are two more to go, both in Europe: the British Open and the Evian Championship.
– There will be a cut after the second day with the top 70 and ties. In case of a tie, a sudden death hole-by-hole playoff will be held. It will start on the 18th and if the tie persists, it will continue on the 14th, 17th and again on the 18th.
