The LPGA Tour gathered at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Georgia for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. The third major of the 2021 season played on a par-72 venue of 6831 yards for a purse of $4.5 million and 625 points towards the Race to the CME Globe. Sei Young Kim entered as the defending champion after posting a 14-under par 266, five better than three-time champion Inbee Park.
First Round
Lizette Salas opened with five birdies and 13 pars for a round of 67. She held a one-shot lead over Charley Hull, who had seven birdies and two bogeys. A group of seven were at three-under, including Jeongeun Lee6 and Jessica Korda. Last week’s winner Nelly Korda, along with Patty Tavatanakit, Ariya Jutanugarn, and In Gee Chun led a group of 13 at two-under par. Inbee Park overcame a triple-bogey on the 8th and was in the mix as one-under, along with the Jyo Joo Kim and Anna Nordqvist. Lydia Ko needed a couple of late birdies to salvage a even par round, along with Hannah Green and So Yeon Ryu. Notables that were well back included Lexis Thompson, Yuka Saso, Danielle Kang, Sophia Popov, Megan Khang, Ally Ewing, Brooke Henderson, and Shanshan Feng. The projected cut after the first 18 holes sat at two-over par.
Second Round
Nelly Korda ran off six consecutive birdies at one point in her round of 63. She held a one-shot lead at the halfway point over the ever-steady Lizette Salas, who went without a bogey for the second straight day. Celine Boutier recorded an eagle in her round of 64, vaulting her into a tie for third with Cydney Clanton and Alena Sharp at seven-under. Madelene Sagstrom quietly remained within striking distance at six-under, while Inbee Park was one of three just six shots back at five-under. Danielle Kang and Wichanee Meechai both shot 67 and led a group of seven at four-under par. Gabriela Ruffels, who was limping around the cut line, recorded birdies on the final four holes. She got into a group at three-under with Patty Tavatanakit, Jessia Korda, and Anna Nordqvist. Georgia Hall’s round of 67 led a group at two-under, which included Ariya Jutanugarn and So Yoen Ryu. Ten shots back was a group the included Moriya Jutanugarn (who rebounded from a 76 in the first round), Yuka Saso, and Lexi Thompson. Brooke Henderson and Lydai Ko made the cut at even, but were a non-factor. Michele Wie West made the cut on the line at two-over. Among those missing the cut were Nasa Hataoka, Crisite Kerr, Maria Fassi, Gaby Lopez, Sophia Popov, Shanshan Feng, and Stacy Lewis.
Third round
The front-runners remained Lizette Salas and Nelly Korda, who shot rounds of 67 and 68, respectively. Giulia Molinaro shot a 66 to get into a tie with Patty Tavanakit, who posted one stroke better, and Celine Boutier, five shots off the pace. A surprise name emerged on the leaderboard in Dottie Ardina of the Philippines after a round of 68 placed her in sole possession of sixth. Esther Henseleit of Germany and Madelen Sagstrom put were tied at seven-under, while Hyo Joo Kim and Xiyu Liu rounded out the top ten at six-under par. Falling quickly on the leaderboard was Cydney Clanton and Alena Sharp, both at four-under after posting identical rounds of 75. Brooke Henderson recorded her best round of the tournament with a 69, putting her in a group of nine that included Jessica Korda and Danielle Kang at three-under. Big names at one-under included So Yeon Ryu, Lexi Thompson, and Sei Young Kim. Inbee Park struggled to find her game on the front nine, posting a 42, leading to a round of 77. Those at two-over included Michelle Wie West, Ariya Jutanugarn, Yuka Saso, and Amy Yang. Jin Young Ko shot a 74 and was a non-factor at four-over, tied for 56th.
Final Round
A two-woman race turned into a relatively easy win for Nelly Korda. After two birdies and eagles on both the par 5 5th and 12th, Korda opened a five-shot lead heading to the 15th. Despite a double bogey on the 15th, Korda cruised to a 68 and a three-shot win over Lizette Salas, who posted a round of 71. Korda’s win was her sixth LPGA victory and first major. Hyo Joo Kim and Giulia Molinaro tied for third at ten-under. Danielle Kang’s 67 vaulted her to a top five finish, tied with Patty Tavatanakit, who struggled to four-over par on the back nine. Celine Boutier also had problems in the final round, recording a 75 and falling to a tied for 7th with Austin Ernst. Amy Yang moved from 42nd into the top ten after a six-under par stretch from the 4th through the 9th led to a round of 64. Also moving up the leader board was Sei Young Kim, whose round of 68 put her into a tie for 12th with Wichanee Meechai and Dottie Ardina. Yuka Saso moved from 42nd to a tie for 21st after a round of 67. Notables include Brooke Henderson (three-under), Moriya Jutanugarn and Gee Chun (one-under), Inbee Park, (one-over), Jin Young Ko, Ariya Jutanugarn, Michelle Wie West (two-over), Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson (three-over), and Jeongeun Lee6 (five-over).
Coming Up
The LPGA heads to the Old American Golf Club July 1 – 4 at The Colony, Texas for the Volunteers of America Classic. This 72-hole event takes place on a par 71 layout of 6475 yards. Last year, Yealimi Noh, Inbee Park and Seo Yeon Ryu took the lead heading into the final round. However, it was Angela Stanford that stormed from behind with a final round of 67 for her 7th LPGA Tour win. This year, the ladies are playing for a purse of $1.5 million 500 points towards the Race to the CME Globe.
