Lexi Thompson, Megan Khang come up short at Dow as South Korean duo wins first LPGA title

USA Today

20 hours ago

With no range on property at the Dow Championship to keep loose, Lexi Thompson did what she's known for on the LPGA – signed autographs. After draining a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-3 18th to give Team Biggie Smalls the clubhouse lead, Thompson and partner Megan Khang waited to see whether their 20-under total would hold up at Midland Country Club.
As it turned out, South Korea's Jin Hee Im and Somi Lee had something to say about it. A birdie on the 17th from Lee brought them to the 18th tee in a tie with the Solheim Cup duo. As Thompson looked for her first title since 2019 and Khang for the first time since 2023, the relative newcomers, Im and Lee, were each searching for breakthrough wins.
Thompson and Khang watched from the clubhouse as Lee and Im – dressed in white – faced two chances to win it outright in the four-ball format. After Im's birdie attempt grazed the right edge of the cup, Lee pushed hers even more and they prepared for overtime.
The foursome returned to the 18th tee for the playoff, but the format switched to foursomes (alternate shot). Thompson stepped up with her wedge from 144 yards and stuffed it to 5 feet. Lee followed, hitting hers past the hole about 9 feet.
After looking shaky on the greens down the stretch, Im drained the putt for birdie to putt pressure on Khang.
The must-make putt slid by the left edge.
"If I had it alone I can't make it," said Im. "I think we're best team ever."
Lee and Im become the 50th and 51st South Koreans to win on the LPGA, respectively, and the first team to each make the Dow their first victory. The each earned $399,510 for their efforts.
As for Thompson and Khang, this marked their first time playing the Dow together after successfully partnering at the 2023 Solheim Cup.
"We stuck with the game plan that we decided at the beginning of the week," said Khang, "and Lexi hit a great shot in."
For the semi-retired Thompson, this marked her third consecutive week of competition. She held a share of the lead at the turn on Sunday at the Meijer LPGA Classic, also in Michigan, and contended at the toasty KPMG Women's PGA in Texas, ultimately finishing T-4 and T-12.
In eight starts this season, the 30-year-old has five top-15 finishes. While Thompson has stated she's taking an extended break after this, she has yet to reveal when she'll play next. After a week off, the LPGA heads to the Amundi Evian Championship in France for the fourth major of the season. Thompson last played the Evian in 2019.
"Megan played some amazing golf this week," said Thompson. "I pulled together some good golf today.
"It's just great to be alongside her. We have a lot of laughs and in between shots we are relaxed and have a good time. Like she said ham and egged it and had a good finish here."
Lee and Im have 11 KLPGA titles between them and entered the Dow ranked 55th and 33rd, respectively, in the world. For Im, the Dow marked her first team event. Lee played last year in Midland with Hearan Ryu.
"So golf is always play alone, but this tournament is together," said Lee. "Yeah, I think it's so funny and very exciting. I love it, Dow, and Michigan. I love this weather and then this course. So, I like Michigan."