USA's Danielle Kang captured her first career win and major title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Olympia Fields, Illinois, winning by one stroke from Brooke Henderson.
USA's Danielle Kang captured her first career win and major title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Olympia Fields, Illinois.
The two-time US Women’s Amateur winner closed with a 68 to finish at 13-under-par 271 for a one stroke victory from defending champion Brooke Henderson.
“The three-putt on No. 10 was the turning point for me,” Kang said about a cringe-worthy missed 3 footer. “I said I’m going to learn from that and then I made four birdies in a row.” Just as important was a 21-footer to save par on No. 16. It was a gutsy effort by a 24-year-old who smiled her way around the course, winning hearts along the way.
Kang is a sixth-year pro out of Pepperdine with a dazzling amateur career. She qualified for the 2007 US Women’s Open as a 14-year-old, won the US Women’s Amateur in 2010 and 2011 as well as capturing the prestigious North and South Championship in 2011. But she was winless on the LPGA and her best finish in an LPGA major was T-14 in the 2012 US Women’s Open.
Chella Choi, who started the final round tied with Kang at 10-under-par, three strokes ahead of Henderson, closed with a 71 to finish third at 274. Amy Yang picked up her 16th top-10 in a major without a win, finishing T-4 at 275 along with Mi Hyang Lee and Sei Young Kim. Inbee Park and Lexi Thompson were T-7 at 277.
Image: Getty Images
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