Nelly Korda settles for a halve, while Megan Khang survives roller-coaster Day One at LPGA Match Play
.
— LPGA T-Mobile Match Play Presented by MGM Rewards (@LPGAMatchPlay)
The format has returned to round-robin play among the 16 groups of four players, so Korda still has a path to the knockout stage of the weekend.
But it was a typically wild day in this once-a-year format.
Albane Valenzuela was 5 down at the turn to Megan Khang before she stormed back to square the match through 16 holes. The pride of Rockland had to get up-and-down from behind the 17th green to avoid falling behind, and then the closing hole flipped.
Megan Khang, the pride of Rockland, survived blowing a 5-up lead to Albane Valenzuela before taking a 1-up victory Wednesday on the first day of the LPGA Match Play tournament in Las Vegas.
John Locher/Associated Press
Khang was still in the fairway playing her third shot and judged it perfectly off a backstop, the ball rolling out to 4 feet for a chance at par. Valenzuela went from a bunker to the back of the green, facing a 60-foot putt with a steep ridge halfway to the hole.
Advertisement
Her putt was an inch from catching the ridge. Her par putt had no chance and rolled out 12 feet, and she missed the bogey putt and conceded the match. Khang never had to putt.
'Happy to get the win, but in stressful fashion,' Khang said.
Megan Khang grinded it out for an opening win in Vegas 💪
— LPGA (@LPGA)
Hyo Joo Kim, coming off a playoff win last week in Phoenix, made short work of Bailey Tardy with an 8-and-7 victory, and Brooke Henderson also had an easy time, 6 and 5, over Leona Maguire of Ireland.
Jenny Shin had a tough loss, and not just because she had a 3-up lead. She was 1 up until A Lim Kim won the 17th with a birdie. On the final hole, Shin had a sharp-breaking putt from about 20 feet for birdie to win the match. She ran that 5 feet by and missed the par putt to lose.
Charley Hull of England was all square with Westborough's Alexa Pano until winning five straight holes on the back nine for a 5-and-3 victory.
Westborough native Alexa Pano watches her tee shot on the sixth hole during her loss to Charley Hull of England Wednesday in Las Vegas.
David Becker/Getty
Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, the No. 2 player in the women's world ranking, had a 6-and-5 win over Danielle Kang, who lives in Las Vegas and received a sponsor exemption.
Kang, battling back from injury, has fallen to No. 375 in the world.
Four of the top eight seeds lost their opening matches, including third-seeded Lydia Ko, 6 and 4, to Hira Naveed, who was first alternate two days ago.
'Having Lydia as the first girl to play, I knew I had the task at hand,' Naveed said. 'Just went out there and played fearless golf and hit some great shots and made putts, so that was good.'
Advertisement
The others to lose were Haeran Ryu, Ruoning Yin and Jin Young Ko.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Paige Spiranac Makes Emotions Clear Amid Tommy Fleetwood's All-Class Moment
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Tommy Fleetwood may be the PGA Tour's highest-earning player without a win, but his grace in defeat continues to win hearts every time, including one from the LPGA's most outspoken voice, Paige Spiranac. Paige Spiranac voices her feelings after Tommy Fleetwood's brutal loss at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. (Credits: Getty Images) Paige Spiranac voices her feelings after Tommy Fleetwood's brutal loss at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. (Credits: Getty Images) Getty Images Fleetwood entered Sunday's final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship with a one-shot lead, poised to secure his first PGA Tour title since turning pro in 2010. Despite a strong week, a bogey on the 17th hole dropped the 34-year-old out of contention. He finished tied for third at 15-under alongside World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, whereas Justin Rose claimed the title after a playoff win over J.J. Spaun. While fans flooded social media with sympathy and frustration, Paige Spiranac expressed her sympathy for the PGA Tour star. "You really have to feel for (Tommy) Fleetwood at this point. Brutal," Spiranac posted on X on Sunday night. You really have to feel for fleetwood at this point. Brutal. — Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) August 10, 2025 Her comment quickly gained traction, echoing the sentiment of thousands who watched Fleetwood's hopes unravel late in the round. But what followed was a masterclass from the seven-time DP World Tour winner. Hours after the heartbreaking loss, Fleetwood responded not with excuses but with admiration for his friend and playing partner. "With every disappointment I truly know I'm closer and closer and even more determined than ever that I will get this done," he wrote on X. "The support I've received is invaluable and hugely appreciated, we'll get there together! @JustinRose99, your win is inspiring, congratulations my friend!! A new week. See you at work!!" Rose, who birdied the final hole to force a playoff and then sealed his 12th PGA Tour win with a clutch putt on the third extra hole, praised Fleetwood's spirit in his post-round interview after the win. "This one felt quite stoic in the sense of determination, execution," Rose told reporters during the press conference on Sunday. "There were a few different agendas—playing with Tommy (Fleetwood), playing in great spirits in that group, and then kind of turning into the playoff and being that dynamic as it always is with USA, Europe, obviously Ryder Cup around the corner." Fleetwood's composure and Rose's tribute underscored the bond between the two Englishmen, one forged through years of Ryder Cup battles and Tour camaraderie. And now, both are officially headed to Bethpage Black. Following their performances in Memphis, Fleetwood and Rose joined Rory McIlroy as automatic qualifiers for Team Europe at this year's Ryder Cup in late September. Fleetwood will make his fourth consecutive appearance, while Rose returns for his seventh. More Golf: Why Justin Rose Tipped Cap To Phil Mickelson After FedEx Cup Playoff Win
USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
Aussie Ella Scaysbrook looking to become second 63rd seed winner at U.S. Women's Amateur
BANDON, Ore. — Ella Scaysbrook didn't know who Jensen Castle was. Funny thing is, she has driven past her picture every single day for the past week. Scaysbrook, a 19-year-old Australian, is one of the four semifinalists at the 2025 U.S. Women's Amateur at Bandon Dunes. She has dominated her first four matches en route to the semis, with no match going past the 15th hole. And she's doing all of this as the 63rd seed, not even earning her spot in match play until a playoff Wednesday morning. But Friday, she took over from the first hole, draining a birdie putt from off the green and riding that momentum to a 5-and-4 dispatch of Canada's Taylor Kehoe. "It's definitely something that you want to do on the first hole, like hole the putts when you have that confidence that you can do that for the rest of the round," Scaysbrook said. "So, I don't know, gives a bit of confidence when you do something like that." Four years ago, Castle became the first 63rd seed to win the U.S. Women's Amateur. Her picture with the trophy is on a sign lining the driveway to the Bandon Dunes clubhouse, one every player has passed multiple times this week, including Scaysbrook. She had no idea. "That's crazy," Scaysbrook said. Playing in her first USGA championship, the week has been a whirl for Scaysbrook, even if her play hasn't shown it. Hubby of LPGA pro on Scaysbrook's bag Duane Smith, husband of longtime LPGA pro Sarah Jane Smith, is on the bag for Scaysbrook this week. She met the Smiths through Golf Australia and lived with them this summer in Orlando, Florida. The course conditions at Bandon Dunes, even the winds that finally arrived Thursday and picked up Friday, are something she has dealt with numerous times in the sandbelt. On Saturday, she faces world No. 11 Megha Ganne in the semifinals, and if she wins, she'll have a chance to join Castle as 63rd-seed winner at the U.S. Women's Amateur. Is she allowing herself to look ahead? "A little bit, but try to stay in the present," Scaysbrook said. "Just go out tomorrow and see what happens. I'm proud I made it this far anyway."
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Yamashita raises AIG Women's Open trophy
Miyu Yamashita hoists her trophy after earning her first LPGA and major win at the 2025 AIG Women's Open before reflecting on what it meant to have her family in the crowd in Wales and how she kept her composure.
