2023 KPMG Women's PGA Championship Preview

The second major of the women’s golf season is on the horizon as South Korean, Chun In-gee, heads to New Jersey to defend her title from last year.

This will mark the second of five major championships for the women, with the U.S. Women’s Open to follow in only a few weeks’ time.

• Tournament Winners
• Form Guide
• The Course
• Picks to Win
• Players to Watch
• TV Guide

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Tournament Winners

This is an event that South Korean golfers have dominated across the last five years, with three winners coming from the country.

Park Sung-hyun was victorious in 2018 before Hannah Green landed her first major championship the following year.

Kim Sei-young brought the championship back to South Korea in 2020; Nelly Korda secured her maiden major triumph at this tournament in 2021.

Chun In-gee will head into this year’s event as the defending champion after she narrowly beat Minjee Lee and Lexi Thompson by a sole stroke.

Form Guide

Irishwoman Leona Maguire (18/1) will travel to Baltusrol Golf Club fresh off a victory in her previous event – which marked her second LPGA win.

Remarkably, Nelly Korda (14/1) still only has one major championship to her name, but the 24-year-old will be looking to add another this weekend.

Atthaya Thitkul (11/1) will head into the event as favourite and for good reason too; during her last three LPGA starts, the Thai star has finished inside the top 10 on all three occasions.

The Course

Baltusrol Golf Club is no stranger to important competition; throughout its expansive history, it’s hosted the U.S. Open on multiple occasions, the men’s PGA Championship and the women’s U.S. Open.

Further hosting rights include the U.S. Junior Amateur and the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

This will mark the first occasion that it has held the women’s PGA Championship, however.

There are two courses located at Baltusrol Golf Club – both of which has hosted professional competition – but the women will be playing the Lower Course for this year’s championship.

Originally, the Lower Course was designed by A. W. Tillinghast in the 1920s before Robert Trent Jones remastered the layout in 1952.

It received one final makeover as Jones’ son, Rees, was employed by the club to provide the latest update to the majestic golf course.

Featuring wide fairways with relatively small undulations, those who are long off the tee should gain an advantage during tournament week.

The real challenge will come on the greens. Exceptionally difficult to read, pace putting will be a valuable tool for the eventual winner.

Furthermore, there are more than 120 bunkers located precisely around the course, with commentators often stating that the bunker placement is ‘cruel’.

Tournament Picks & Tips

To Win

Ashleigh Buhai (28/1). After a frustrating start to life in America, Buhai has recorded two victories on the LPGA including this month’s ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Each Way

Lydia Ko (25/1). Two major victories in her career and she’s previously finished runner-up in this event.

Rose Zhang (20/1). Rose Zhang begun her professional career with a victory in her very first event – why can’t she emulate that in her first major too? She is special.

Three to Follow

Lilia Vu (28/1). Currently sits atop the LPGA Order of Merit.

Minjee Lee (28/1). Already a major champion and looks destined to add to that cabinet very soon.

Danielle Kang (33/1). Although winless for 18 months, this is the one major Kang has previously won back in 2017.

Three Outsiders to Watch

Charley Hull (50/1). Yet to win a major but finished inside the top 10 of all of them bar the Women’s British Open.

In Gee Chun (66/1). Defending champion that has demonstrated she has what it takes to get over the line.

Lexi Thompson (50/1). Will be desperate to go one better than her T2 finish at last year’s championship.

TV Guide

Thursday, June 22, first round, Sky Sports Golf, 5pm

Friday, June 23, second round, Sky Sports Golf, 5pm

Saturday, June 24, third round, Sky Sports Golf, 5pm *red button*

Sunday, June 25, fourth round, Sky Sports Golf, 5pm *red button*