KPMG Women's PGA Championship Challenge
Recalling the Triumph as Last Year's Major Queen
Kim Seyoung, Jeon Inji, and Park Sunghyun Join the List of Past Champions
Heeyoung Yang is aiming for back-to-back victories.
On June 19 (local time), she will compete in the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (total prize money: $10.4 million) held at Fields Ranch East Course (par 72, 6,604 yards) in Frisco, Texas, USA. This is the third major tournament of the 2024 LPGA Tour. It is also the last major tournament of the year to be held in the United States. The Evian Championship in July (France) and the AIG Women's Open in August (United Kingdom) will take place in Europe.
Heeyoung Yang challenges back-to-back victories at the major tournament KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
The battleground, Fields Ranch East Course, is hosting a women's major tournament for the first time in about two years since the 2023 Senior PGA Championship. The winning score at the 2023 Senior PGA Championship was 18-under par. The course difficulty can vary depending on pin positions and wind strength. Large greens are another characteristic of this course.
Heeyoung Yang is recalling the thrilling memories from last year. She claimed her first major victory at this tournament. In November 2023, she secured her sixth career win at the LPGA Tour's season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, seven months after her previous victory. By winning a major, she also earned a spot at the Paris Olympics, achieving two milestones at once. Immediately after capturing the KPMG Women's PGA Championship title without a sponsor, she signed a main sponsorship deal with Kiwoom Securities.
However, in this season's LPGA Tour, her best finish so far has been a tie for 11th at the Honda Thailand in February, and she has not produced any notable results. Fortunately, when she won this tournament last year, she also had not finished in the top 20 in any previous events.
Among Korean players, past champions besides Heeyoung Yang include Jeon Inji (2022), Kim Seyoung (2020), and Park Sunghyun (2018). In addition, Kim Arim, Ko Jin-young, Yoo Haeran, Kim Hyojoo, Yoon Yina, Lim Jinhui, Choi Hyejin, Lee Mihyang, Lee Sumi, Lee Ilhee, Kang Hyeji, Shin Jieun, An Narin, Joo Subin, Lee Jeongeun, Jeon Ji-won, Lee Jeongeun, and Park Geumgang will also compete. From the KLPGA Tour, Hwang Yumin, Kim Suji, and Bang Shinsil have earned the right to challenge the American stage due to their high world rankings.
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