Here's all you need to know about the 2024 KPMG Women's PGA Championship taking place at Sahalee Country Club
It's time for the third women's Major of the season which comes just days after Bryson DeChambeau secured his second U.S. Open title, just one shot ahead of Rory McIlroy at the 124th U.S. Open.
Here's all you need to know, plus a few ones to watch at the 70th KPMG Women's PGA Championship.
2024 KPMG Women's PGA Fast Facts
- Host: Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington. This will be the second time that Sahalee Country Club has hosted the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
- Past winners at Sahalee Country Club: Sahalee previously hosted the 1998 PGA Championship won by Vijay Singh and the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship won by Brooke Henderson, as well as the 2002 World Golf Championship won by Craig Parry and 2010 U.S. Men’s Senior Open won by Bernhard Langer.
- The 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship will be the second time the Major has been contested at Sahalee. In 2016 Brooke Henderson, who was only 18-years-old, won her first major title with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off against Lydia Ko, after Henderson and Ko both had bogey-free final rounds with scores of 65 (−6) and 67 (−4), respectively to tie on six-under-par.
- Set-up: Sahalee Country Club will be set to 6,731 yards and will play to a par 72. The yardage for each round of the championship may vary due to course setup and conditions.
- Field: 156 golfers, from 28 countries, 72 holes of stroke play will be cut after 36 holes to the low 70 scorers (and ties). In the event of a tie for first place after 72 holes, there will be a hole-by-hole play-off, beginning on 18. If a tie still remains, the play-off will advance holes 14, 17 and 18 until a winner is determined.
- Purse: The purse doubled in 2022, reaching a total of $9 million, with the winner's cheque also doubling to $1.35 million. In 2023, the purse became $10 million. This year it was announced that the purse will increase again to $10.4 million, with the winner receiving $1.56 million.
- Champion: The champion will get their hands on the KPMG Women's PGA Championship trophy and an exemption from qualifying for the next five ANA Inspirations, AIG Women's Opens, U.S. Women's Opens and Evian Championships.
- Current champion: It was a stacked leaderboard heading into the final day of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in 2023, with edge of your seat viewing as Ruoning Yin sank a final hole birdie to win her first Major title.
About Sahalee Country Club
Designed by Ted Robinson in 1969 and renovated by Rees Jones in 1996, Sahalee Country Club takes its name after the Chinook phrase “High Heavenly Ground.”
The par-72 layout was carved out of the tall, majestic cedar and Douglas fir trees native to the Pacific Northwest and is consistently ranked among America’s greatest courses.
Sahalee’s first head professional was Paul Runyan, a two-time PGA and Senior PGA Champion and four-time Ryder Cup team member.
Sahalee boasts a brand-new bunker and restaurant renovation ahead of the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Player to watch this week
Nelly Korda
Although the World Number one will be disappointed to be coming into the week after two missed cuts, one of which was at the last Major the U.S. Women's Open, she will still be a popular pick to be at the top of the leaderboard. Her two missed cuts may not be as bad as they first seem, her U.S. Women's Open opening round of 80 was followed by a 70 and last week her second round 67 followed a disappointing first round 76.
Two missed cuts has definitely seen a little cooling in the media frenzy around her (her missed cut last week was barely even written about). At her press conference on Tuesday, she was asked whether she felt less pressure coming into this Major:
"I feel like pressure is privilege, and that's something that you're the only one that can kind of control that. You can listen to the outside voices, but at the end of the day, when you have pressure you can take it in a positive way that you are doing good and playing well.
"I'm just going to stay in my bubble this week and go out and try to execute my shots, be confident in what I have. This golf course is already hard enough, and if I'm going to put more pressure on myself, then I think it's just going to make it even harder this week."
Don't forget Korda's first Major came at the KPMG Women's PGA in 2021.
Lilia Vu
Coming into the KPMG Women's PGA Championship off a win at the Meijer LPGA Classic in her first tournament back after over two months off with injury, eyes will have shifted to the two-time Major Champion Lilia Vu. Not only does the American have the win, but she also has the fact that this will be her first Major start this season. Vu had to withdraw from The Chevron Championship before she had even been able to hit a ball in her title defence.
If her back is feeling good this week, then she will definitely have a point to prove, mainly to herself. It's unlikely that her expectations will be high, which may be a positive for her after she had what she called her most meaningful win to date last week.
"I think this is the most meaningful win, because there was a time two months ago where I was just crying on the range not being sure if I would every play a tournament again without pain. And, you know, like to be here today, it's just incredible. Just the team I have around me, they've supported me through everything and I just can't believe that we're in this position today. Definitely wasn't in the mindset of winning. I just happened to win. I'm very grateful for everything."
Brooke Henderson
Based on current form, you may not have Brooke Henderson at the top of your pick list, but we think she will definitely be in the mix this week.
Drawing back on fond memories of her first Major win in this event, on this course back in 2016, may act as an added drive to climb to the top of the leaderboard. The Canadian also received a lovely surprise on Tuesday, with Salahee Country Club presenting her with a commemorative plaque on the 18th fairway to mark the spot where she played her seven iron to give herself a birdie putt to win. Not only that, she also received honorary membership!
The 26-year-old will be a popular follow this week and expect a lot of support from the crowd. She is yet to attend her press conference that takes place today, so we'll update with her thoughts when we get them.
Although, like Korda, she missed the cut at the U.S. Open, she was in the final group at The Chevron Championship ultimately finishing in a tie for third and going by her words after that final round, she will want to be contending this week:
"It's great to be contending and in the final group. It's so much fun. The crowds were amazing all week, and just to kind of be in it and to feel that kind of adrenaline and excitement is really awesome. So hopefully I can just, like I said, keep moving forward. My game is right there. Just need a couple breaks and fine-tune a few things, and hopefully I'll be able to lift a trophy soon."
Groups and Tee times
Here's a full list of who will be playing this week.
You can see all KPMG Women's PGA Championship Round One and Round Two tee times here.
How to watch the 2024 KPMG Women's PGA Championship
Last year the coverage doubled to 26 hours which was a vast improvement on the 12 hours we had had in 2022. The number of hours seems to have remained the same for coverage in America, but in the UK we'll only be getting 18 hours of coverage. In the UK, you can watch live coverage of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship on Sky Sports Mix, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Golf. But... due to the eight hour time difference, you'll need lots of caffeine to get through the late night coverage.
UK TV Schedule (All times BST)
First Round: Thursday, June 20: 11pm - 3am BST
Second Round: Friday, June 21: 11pm - 3am BST
Third Round: Saturday, June 22: 7:30pm – 1am BST
Final Round: Sunday, June 23: 7:30pm – 12am BST
For those in the UK, we're still waiting to see whether you can watch LIVE coverage of the 2024 KPMG Women's PGA Championship for FREE via Sky Sports Golf YouTube, like you could last year.https://www.youtube.com/live/8GIhzxjfkHA?feature=share
US Television Schedule (All times EDT)
First Round: Thursday, June 20: 1pm - 3pm PDT Peacock, Golf Channel: 3pm - 7pm PDT
Second Round: Friday, June 21: 1pm - 3pm PDT Peacock, Golf Channel: 3pm - 7pm PDT
Third Round: Saturday, June 22: Peacock: 10am - Noon PDT Peacock, 12pm - 3pm PDT NBC, 3pm - 5pm PDT Golf Channel
Fourth Round: Sunday, June 23: 9am- 12pm PDT Peacock, 12pm - 4pm PDT NBC
Follow the KPMG Women's PGA Championship live leaderboard link here.
Inspired by the third women's Major of the season? Why not come and watch the best players in the world at the AIG Women's Open this summer at St Andrews. Ticket prices start from £20.
