6 Players to Watch at the Women's PGA Championship

The Women's PGA Championship represents the next stage in the LPGA Tour's return to normality, providing a true major test at the immaculately presented Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania.

It's a venue with prestige, Gary Player won the 1962 PGA Championship here, while the U.S. Amateur came in 1977, and the PGA Tour has hosted tournaments at this location in the past decade, won by Justin Rose, Nick Watney and Keegan Bradley. The men's PGA will return to the original Donald Ross design in 2026.

However, it's the women who dominate the stage this week, and eyes are on the leading contenders. Nelly Korda and Brooke Henderson will be determined to recover from recent disappointment at the ANA Inspiration, while former winner Danielle Kang is among the favourites. Minjee Lee, the legendary Inbee Park, and Lexi Thompson are others who have been touted to succeed on this challenging layout. 

However, gazing beyond the leading ten players in the Rolex World Rankings, we take a closer look at six names who could be a factor on the leaderboard this weekend in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

Lydia Ko

Runner-up in 2016, the former world number one has shown encouraging form of late, including a 14th at Royal Troon and sixth place at the ANA Inspiration, the New Zealander's best major result in three years. Given her astonishing success as a teenager, it's easy to forget that Ko is still only 23, and it wouldn't be a shock to witness a welcome reminder of her immense talent at the Women's PGA.

Georgia Hall

The first winner in a spectacular English fortnight on the LPGA, Georgia Hall's first victory in the United States - secured at the Portland Classic - will provide a significant confidence boost as she looks to claim a second major, two years on from that unforgettable Women's Open triumph at Royal Lytham & St Annes. 

Yet to finish inside the top 25 in one of the American based majors, expect the Solheim Cup star to correct that at Aronimink.

Mel Reid

Following Georgia Hall's win in Portland, Mel Reid enjoyed her long-awaited breakthrough on the LPGA Tour, winning the Shroprite LPGA Classic in brilliant fashion. It was an emotional moment for the hugely popular 33-year-old, a career milestone, an achievement self-described as "life changing", but what better way to follow that than by walking in the footsteps of Dame Laura Davies and winning the Women's PGA for England?

Jennifer Kupcho

Winner of the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur in 2019, the 23-year-old has impressed since turning professional, including a runner-up at last year's Evian Championship and a second-place behind Mel Reid at last week. The Wake Forest alumnus is a fearless competitor and could make her first LPGA title a major, something not unheard of, just ask Sophia Popov at the Women's Open.

Jessica Korda

Younger sister Nelly has taken the spotlight lately, but Jessica is a five-time winner on the LPGA Tour still waiting for that elusive major championship. A tie for 13th finish last weekend suggests that the 27-year-old has recovered from a surprise missed cut at the ANA, while coming into the PGA under the radar could benefit the American.

Mirim Lee

It's hard to ignore the most recent major winner, the ANA Inspiration champion of just a month ago, Mirim Lee, whose dramatic success was unfairly overshadowed by the runner-ups Nelly Korda and Brooke Henderson (and the controversy surrounding the artificial wall on the back of the 18th green at Missions Hills). 

Beyond those headlines, Lee produced a short game masterclass to win, something that she will be hoping to repeat here.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

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