Latest news with #Women'sPGAChampionship
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Nelly Korda Indifferent to Eventual Women's Masters, Has Other Priorities in Mind
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. Women's golf recognizes the women's versions of three of the four men's majors as major championships. As for the fourth, the iconic Masters Tournament, there has been a fair share of talk about creating a women's version, although it has never materialized. However, World No. 1 Nelly Korda doesn't see the need for it. Korda spoke on the subject from Dundonald Links, where she will be playing her inaugural Scottish Women's Open starting Thursday. Naturally, Korda isn't opposed to playing specifically at Augusta National Golf Club, but rather has other priorities in mind. "I think we have our own, great, historic events that we as a tour capitalize on," Korda said, according to the transcripts of her pre-tournament press conference. "It's hard to compare. I mean, if you continuously compare yourself to other sports, other tours, you kind of never grow, and having something of your own is really important to the LPGA, and I think we all have that out here." According to the LPGA's official website, Korda had the opportunity to play at Augusta National in 2022, one of the few active players to do so. She was recently joined in that group by LPGA Hall of Famer Lydia Ko. US' Nelly Korda reacts during the final round of the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club, in Evian-Les-Bains, central eastern France, on July 13, 2025. US' Nelly Korda reacts during the final round of the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club, in Evian-Les-Bains, central eastern France, on July 13, 2025. ALEX MARTIN/AFP/Getty Images Nelly Korda is Not Wrong About LPGA Historic Events There's no doubt that Nelly Korda is right when she says that the LPGA's schedule includes events of enormous history and prestige. Among its major championships is the US Women's Open, founded way back in 1949. The Women's PGA Championship celebrated its 70th anniversary this season, while the Chevron Championship and the Women's Open have been held since 1972 and 1976, respectively. The youngest major is the Evian Championship, which is a respectable 34 years old, although it has only been considered a major championship since 2013. Aside from the major championships, there are also other long-standing tournaments that attract a number of the world's best players each year. One of them is precisely the Women's Scottish Open, which has been held since 1986. The current edition will feature four players from the top 10 in the world rankings and 14 from the top 25. Other similar tournaments include the KPMC Women's Open, which has been held since 1973 and even held the status of a major championship for several years. Although not sanctioned by the LPGA Tour, the Women's Australian Open, founded in 1974, is another notable example. Augusta National Golf Club, host of the Masters Tournament, already organizes a women's tournament, the Augusta National Women's Amateur. It has also accepted several women as members, including LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam. More Golf: Tiger Woods Looks Fit Following Son Charlie at US Junior Amateur
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
LPGA Star Minjee Lee Reveals 'Goal' With Career Grand Slam in Sight
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. LPGA star Minjee Lee will be looking to make history next week at the AIG Women's Open. The Australian is one of two players with a chance to complete the career Grand Slam with a win at Royal Porthcawl, according to LPGA rules. However, Lee disagrees. Speaking on the topic before playing this week in the Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links, Lee expressed her disagreement with the Tour regarding completing the ultimate achievement in professional golf. "I think for me, like all five is the goal," she said, according to the transcripts of her pre-tournament press conference. "So I think it's just different for us because we have five (majors) and we don't have four. ... I just think for me, five is the goal." Minjee Lee of Australia poses with the trophy after winning the KPMG Women's PGA Championship 2025 at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco on June 22, 2025 in Frisco, Texas. Minjee Lee of Australia poses with the trophy after winning the KPMG Women's PGA Championship 2025 at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco on June 22, 2025 in Frisco, won the third leg of the Career Grand Slam a few weeks ago when she captured the Women's PGA Championship. She previously won the 2022 US Women's Open and the 2021 Amundi Evian Championship. In Gee Chun is the other player in the AIG Women's Open field with three previous wins at three different majors. However, the Korean hasn't won on the LPGA Tour since 2022 and hasn't finished in the top 10 in 12 tournaments played this season. In addition to Lee and Chun, two other active players are one step away from completing the career Grand Slam: Lydia Ko (needs the Women's PGA Championship or the US Women's Open) and Anna Nordqvist (needs the Chevron Championship or the US Women's Open). The Women's Career Grand Slam Controversy Although the LPGA Tour has recognized five major championships since 2013, its rules establish that any player who wins four different major championships in her career is considered to have completed the Career Grand Slam. Aussie golfer Minjee Lee has won her third major title by just three strokes in the Women's PGA Championship. — The Project (@theprojecttv) June 23, 2025 The issue has been controversial, but it has deep historical roots. Unlike its male counterpart, women's golf has not always had four major championships, but has fluctuated between two and five. For this reason, attempts have been made to harmonize all historical stages by creating the Career Grand Slam and the Super Career Grand Slam. The first term applies to players who have won four different major titles, and the second to those who have won five. Only seven players have completed the Career Grand Slam according to these terms: Pat Bradley, Juli Inkster, Annika Sörenstam, Louise Suggs, Karrie Webb, Mickey Wright and Inbee Park. Webb is the only Super Career Grand Slammer, according to the LPGA, having won five majors during her career, although one of them (due Maurier Classic) later lost its status as a major championship and became the current CPKC Women's Open. There is one notable exception missing from this list. Babe Zaharias won all three tournaments recognized as major championships in her playing days multiple times and never had the opportunity to compete in a fourth tournament with that status. More Golf: Scottie Scheffler's Chipotle Chat Uncovers Prize Beyond His Open Win
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Five tied for early lead at Evian Champs
Five women fired rounds of 65 to take the first-round lead yesterday at the Evian Championship, the fourth of five LPGA majors on the season. Americans Jennifer Kupcho and Andrea Lee, Australians Grace Kim and Gabriela Ruffels, and Leona Maguire of Ireland all share the lead at 6-under at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France. Despite the crowd at the top, Maguire could perhaps nevertheless claim day-one bragging rights after she made a hole-in-one as part of her round, acing the par-3 second hole with her tee shot from 150m. A stroke back from the leading bunch at 66 is Minjee Lee of Australia, who won the Women's PGA Championship in June. Two more strokes behind after rounds of 67 sits a group of nine that includes world No 1 Nelly Korda, defending champion Ayake Furue of Japan and another native of Japan, Mao Saigo, who won the season's first major at The Chevron Championship in April. Bogies blotted the day for New Zealand's world No 3 Lydia Ko, who shot a two-over 73 to be eight shots behind the leaders and tied in 76th place. Ko, who won the event in 2015, is now in danger of missing the cut. — Field Level Media / additional reporting APL
Perth Now
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Webb weaves magic to usher in golf golden generation
The great Karrie Webb is being credited with inspiring newly-crowned major champ Grace Kim as Australia's crop of uber-talented women's golfers stand on the brink of global domination. Kim produced a round for the ages to recover from a four-shot deficit and clinch a dramatic playoff victory at the Evian Championship in France. The 24-year-old joined Webb, Minjee Lee, Hannah Green and Jan Stephenson as only Australia's fifth female major winner. Kim's epic victory also secured Australia a second straight major after Lee won the Women's PGA Championship only three weeks ago. Former professional Karen Lunn, the WPGA Tour of Australasia chief executive, is predicting an Australian could also win the Women's British Open that gets underway at Royal Porthcawl on July 31. As well as Kim's remarkable run, world No.6 Lee finished in a tie for third just one shot behind, while Gabi Ruffels was co-leader heading into the final round before finishing joint ninth. Throw in 2024 Evian runner-up Steph Kyriacou, who finished 14th, and 2019 Women's PGA Championship winner Green, and Australia has five genuine contenders to win the fifth major of the year. Only the dominant South Korean contingent have been able to conjure three successive victories in a calender year in the current five-major era; in 2020 and in 2013, when Inbee Park won three in succession. "It can get really, really windy there. But all of our girls, they've grown up in Australia playing in a lot of wind ... so they're more than capable of handling the tough conditions," Lunn said. "And when the conditions are tough, you need a good short game and you know Gracie's got one of the best and obviously Minjee is putting so much better with a long putter this year. "It's not beyond the real possibility that we could get three straight majors." Lunn credits the golden generation coming through with all having ties to seven-time major winner Webb. Kim was a four-time winner of Webb's scholarship, which gave her the chance to learn from Australia's greatest champion, with Green, Lee and Ruffels also spending a week with the Hall of Famer as part of the prize. "She brings two players to a major championship and they all have dinner with the other Australian players who are playing," Lunn said of 50-year-old Webb. "Grace Kim was a part of that and, when Hannah won her major (in 2019), Grace was one of the scholarship holders that week and was one of the first to run on the green and congratulate Hannah. "Karrie is a mentor and they've all got her phone number and she's at the end of the line whenever they needed advice on anything. "Even though she's retired from playing she's still incredibly involved and I know she was glued to the TV and would've just been so thrilled and so proud of Grace's win." Lunn says the Australians on the LPGA Tour are like a family, often sharing lodging and meals together, and are regularly seen on the side of the green ready to celebrate or commiserate with their contending compatriots. "It's a little bit infectious - they're feeding off each other's success," Lunn said. "Hannah missed the cut this week but she was one of the ones there celebrating with Grace. "But even Hannah, she's not playing her best golf, but she'll get a big boost seeing Grace win." And with all but Lee and Green aged under 25 and a number of other young rising stars, the glory days could continue for some time. "This next generation are coming into the prime of their golfing career so those names are going to be there for a long, long time."
The Advertiser
14-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Was that the most epic finish ever? Aussie wins major in remarkable style
Grace Kim is living in dreamland after producing one of the most astonishing golfing fightbacks in history to join Australia's illustrious group of major champions. Kim recovered from four shots behind in a most dramatic final round to clinch a fanciful victory over world No.2 Jeeno Thitikul on the second playoff hole at the Evian Championship in France. "I don't know how it happened, really," said the incredulous Kim after her astounding eagle-birdie-eagle finish landed her the crown in the fourth major of the year. With three eagles in a wild final-round 67, Kim prevailed with a 14-under-par 270 winning total to join Karrie Webb, Minjee Lee, Hannah Green and Jan Stephenson as only Australia's fifth female major winner. Thitikul appeared on track to herself capture her maiden major after the trio of Aussies, Kim, Lee and Gabriela Ruffels, faltered down the stretch at the Evian Resort Club on Sunday. Ruffels had shared the lead while fellow 24-year-old Kim and triple major-winning great Lee were just one shot behind entering the final round in the beautiful French Alps, near Lake Geneva. But after a crazy day of twists and turns, Kim found herself in a playoff with Thitikul after delivering a contender for shot of the year for a spectacular eagle on the closing par-5 18th hole. Thitikul still had the chance to win but missed a short sliding downhill putt before Kim tapped in for eagle to force the playoff. The Thai then looked certain to win on the first extra hole when Kim hit her second shot into the hazard. But the Sydneysider miraculously chipped in for birdie to extend the playoff, before prevailing on the second extra hole when Thitikul erred again and could not match Kim's eagle. "I wasn't worried," said Kim, reflcting on her amazing chip. "Dropped the ball and it kind of ended up in a pretty decent lie and I just wanted to make sure I got it there. Yeah, just happened to have chipped it in. I don't know if I can do it again. That was great." But earlier in the day, Kim had felt she had missed the boat after she had double-bogeyed the 12th hole. "I thought I was out of it," she said. "But I just said to myself and to my caddy, 'I've got nothing else to lose'." It was the cue for her to play almost as if in a trance over the clutch late holes and in the playoff. What was she thinking when she stood over the 12ft eagle putt to make history on that second playoff hole? "Just looked straight at the hole. That's what my caddie told me to do and I did it," she said. "Just all happened quickly." Kim's epic victory secured Australia a second straight major after Lee won the Women's PGA Championship only three weeks ago. After closing with a 67 to post a four-round 14-under-270 total, Kim ultimately only edged out Lee - who closed with a 68 - by one shot. Ruffels' third-round co-leader and fellow former tennis ace, England's Cara Gainer, was quick to fade out of the picture with four bogeys in the first five holes. For Kim, a four-time winner of Karrie Webb's scholarship, which has given her the chance to learn from Australia's greatest champion, it was a potentially life-changing win. "It's a huge achievement for me," she said. "I've had a lot of doubts early this year. I was kind of losing motivation. I kind of had to get some hard conversations done with the team. Yeah, kind of had to wake up a little bit. "So to be sitting here next to this trophy is definitely surreal." Completing a stellar championship for Australia's exciting batch of stars, 2024 runner-up Steph Kyriacou had another last-day charge to storm home with a 64 to tie for 14th. Grace Kim is living in dreamland after producing one of the most astonishing golfing fightbacks in history to join Australia's illustrious group of major champions. Kim recovered from four shots behind in a most dramatic final round to clinch a fanciful victory over world No.2 Jeeno Thitikul on the second playoff hole at the Evian Championship in France. "I don't know how it happened, really," said the incredulous Kim after her astounding eagle-birdie-eagle finish landed her the crown in the fourth major of the year. With three eagles in a wild final-round 67, Kim prevailed with a 14-under-par 270 winning total to join Karrie Webb, Minjee Lee, Hannah Green and Jan Stephenson as only Australia's fifth female major winner. Thitikul appeared on track to herself capture her maiden major after the trio of Aussies, Kim, Lee and Gabriela Ruffels, faltered down the stretch at the Evian Resort Club on Sunday. Ruffels had shared the lead while fellow 24-year-old Kim and triple major-winning great Lee were just one shot behind entering the final round in the beautiful French Alps, near Lake Geneva. But after a crazy day of twists and turns, Kim found herself in a playoff with Thitikul after delivering a contender for shot of the year for a spectacular eagle on the closing par-5 18th hole. Thitikul still had the chance to win but missed a short sliding downhill putt before Kim tapped in for eagle to force the playoff. The Thai then looked certain to win on the first extra hole when Kim hit her second shot into the hazard. But the Sydneysider miraculously chipped in for birdie to extend the playoff, before prevailing on the second extra hole when Thitikul erred again and could not match Kim's eagle. "I wasn't worried," said Kim, reflcting on her amazing chip. "Dropped the ball and it kind of ended up in a pretty decent lie and I just wanted to make sure I got it there. Yeah, just happened to have chipped it in. I don't know if I can do it again. That was great." But earlier in the day, Kim had felt she had missed the boat after she had double-bogeyed the 12th hole. "I thought I was out of it," she said. "But I just said to myself and to my caddy, 'I've got nothing else to lose'." It was the cue for her to play almost as if in a trance over the clutch late holes and in the playoff. What was she thinking when she stood over the 12ft eagle putt to make history on that second playoff hole? "Just looked straight at the hole. That's what my caddie told me to do and I did it," she said. "Just all happened quickly." Kim's epic victory secured Australia a second straight major after Lee won the Women's PGA Championship only three weeks ago. After closing with a 67 to post a four-round 14-under-270 total, Kim ultimately only edged out Lee - who closed with a 68 - by one shot. Ruffels' third-round co-leader and fellow former tennis ace, England's Cara Gainer, was quick to fade out of the picture with four bogeys in the first five holes. For Kim, a four-time winner of Karrie Webb's scholarship, which has given her the chance to learn from Australia's greatest champion, it was a potentially life-changing win. "It's a huge achievement for me," she said. "I've had a lot of doubts early this year. I was kind of losing motivation. I kind of had to get some hard conversations done with the team. Yeah, kind of had to wake up a little bit. "So to be sitting here next to this trophy is definitely surreal." Completing a stellar championship for Australia's exciting batch of stars, 2024 runner-up Steph Kyriacou had another last-day charge to storm home with a 64 to tie for 14th. Grace Kim is living in dreamland after producing one of the most astonishing golfing fightbacks in history to join Australia's illustrious group of major champions. Kim recovered from four shots behind in a most dramatic final round to clinch a fanciful victory over world No.2 Jeeno Thitikul on the second playoff hole at the Evian Championship in France. "I don't know how it happened, really," said the incredulous Kim after her astounding eagle-birdie-eagle finish landed her the crown in the fourth major of the year. With three eagles in a wild final-round 67, Kim prevailed with a 14-under-par 270 winning total to join Karrie Webb, Minjee Lee, Hannah Green and Jan Stephenson as only Australia's fifth female major winner. Thitikul appeared on track to herself capture her maiden major after the trio of Aussies, Kim, Lee and Gabriela Ruffels, faltered down the stretch at the Evian Resort Club on Sunday. Ruffels had shared the lead while fellow 24-year-old Kim and triple major-winning great Lee were just one shot behind entering the final round in the beautiful French Alps, near Lake Geneva. But after a crazy day of twists and turns, Kim found herself in a playoff with Thitikul after delivering a contender for shot of the year for a spectacular eagle on the closing par-5 18th hole. Thitikul still had the chance to win but missed a short sliding downhill putt before Kim tapped in for eagle to force the playoff. The Thai then looked certain to win on the first extra hole when Kim hit her second shot into the hazard. But the Sydneysider miraculously chipped in for birdie to extend the playoff, before prevailing on the second extra hole when Thitikul erred again and could not match Kim's eagle. "I wasn't worried," said Kim, reflcting on her amazing chip. "Dropped the ball and it kind of ended up in a pretty decent lie and I just wanted to make sure I got it there. Yeah, just happened to have chipped it in. I don't know if I can do it again. That was great." But earlier in the day, Kim had felt she had missed the boat after she had double-bogeyed the 12th hole. "I thought I was out of it," she said. "But I just said to myself and to my caddy, 'I've got nothing else to lose'." It was the cue for her to play almost as if in a trance over the clutch late holes and in the playoff. What was she thinking when she stood over the 12ft eagle putt to make history on that second playoff hole? "Just looked straight at the hole. That's what my caddie told me to do and I did it," she said. "Just all happened quickly." Kim's epic victory secured Australia a second straight major after Lee won the Women's PGA Championship only three weeks ago. After closing with a 67 to post a four-round 14-under-270 total, Kim ultimately only edged out Lee - who closed with a 68 - by one shot. Ruffels' third-round co-leader and fellow former tennis ace, England's Cara Gainer, was quick to fade out of the picture with four bogeys in the first five holes. For Kim, a four-time winner of Karrie Webb's scholarship, which has given her the chance to learn from Australia's greatest champion, it was a potentially life-changing win. "It's a huge achievement for me," she said. "I've had a lot of doubts early this year. I was kind of losing motivation. I kind of had to get some hard conversations done with the team. Yeah, kind of had to wake up a little bit. "So to be sitting here next to this trophy is definitely surreal." Completing a stellar championship for Australia's exciting batch of stars, 2024 runner-up Steph Kyriacou had another last-day charge to storm home with a 64 to tie for 14th. Grace Kim is living in dreamland after producing one of the most astonishing golfing fightbacks in history to join Australia's illustrious group of major champions. Kim recovered from four shots behind in a most dramatic final round to clinch a fanciful victory over world No.2 Jeeno Thitikul on the second playoff hole at the Evian Championship in France. "I don't know how it happened, really," said the incredulous Kim after her astounding eagle-birdie-eagle finish landed her the crown in the fourth major of the year. With three eagles in a wild final-round 67, Kim prevailed with a 14-under-par 270 winning total to join Karrie Webb, Minjee Lee, Hannah Green and Jan Stephenson as only Australia's fifth female major winner. Thitikul appeared on track to herself capture her maiden major after the trio of Aussies, Kim, Lee and Gabriela Ruffels, faltered down the stretch at the Evian Resort Club on Sunday. Ruffels had shared the lead while fellow 24-year-old Kim and triple major-winning great Lee were just one shot behind entering the final round in the beautiful French Alps, near Lake Geneva. But after a crazy day of twists and turns, Kim found herself in a playoff with Thitikul after delivering a contender for shot of the year for a spectacular eagle on the closing par-5 18th hole. Thitikul still had the chance to win but missed a short sliding downhill putt before Kim tapped in for eagle to force the playoff. The Thai then looked certain to win on the first extra hole when Kim hit her second shot into the hazard. But the Sydneysider miraculously chipped in for birdie to extend the playoff, before prevailing on the second extra hole when Thitikul erred again and could not match Kim's eagle. "I wasn't worried," said Kim, reflcting on her amazing chip. "Dropped the ball and it kind of ended up in a pretty decent lie and I just wanted to make sure I got it there. Yeah, just happened to have chipped it in. I don't know if I can do it again. That was great." But earlier in the day, Kim had felt she had missed the boat after she had double-bogeyed the 12th hole. "I thought I was out of it," she said. "But I just said to myself and to my caddy, 'I've got nothing else to lose'." It was the cue for her to play almost as if in a trance over the clutch late holes and in the playoff. What was she thinking when she stood over the 12ft eagle putt to make history on that second playoff hole? "Just looked straight at the hole. That's what my caddie told me to do and I did it," she said. "Just all happened quickly." Kim's epic victory secured Australia a second straight major after Lee won the Women's PGA Championship only three weeks ago. After closing with a 67 to post a four-round 14-under-270 total, Kim ultimately only edged out Lee - who closed with a 68 - by one shot. Ruffels' third-round co-leader and fellow former tennis ace, England's Cara Gainer, was quick to fade out of the picture with four bogeys in the first five holes. For Kim, a four-time winner of Karrie Webb's scholarship, which has given her the chance to learn from Australia's greatest champion, it was a potentially life-changing win. "It's a huge achievement for me," she said. "I've had a lot of doubts early this year. I was kind of losing motivation. I kind of had to get some hard conversations done with the team. Yeah, kind of had to wake up a little bit. "So to be sitting here next to this trophy is definitely surreal." Completing a stellar championship for Australia's exciting batch of stars, 2024 runner-up Steph Kyriacou had another last-day charge to storm home with a 64 to tie for 14th.
