Kang wins her 1st LPGA Tour title
OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. (AP) — Danielle Kang birdied the final hole to win the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour title, edging defending champion Brooke Henderson of Canada.
Kang bogeyed the tricky par-3 17th, and Henderson closed with two birdies to move into a tie for the lead, coming up just short on a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th. But Kang responded with two solid shots to get to the green in two, and then two-putted for the victory.
“I just told myself it was my week. It was my day,” Kang said.
It was another great finish for the LPGA Tour’s second major of the season. The 19year-old Henderson beat Lydia Ko in a playoff last year at Sahalee in Washington.
The 24-year-old Kang trailed Henderson and Chella Choi by one after she bogeyed the par4 10th at Olympia Fields. But Kang moved in front with four straight birdies on Nos. 11-14, getting hot with her putter at the right time.
Kang also had a clutch 21-foot par putt at 16 on her way to a 4-under 68 and the winner’s check of $525,000. Henderson closed with a 66 to finish a stroke back, and Chella Choi, who was tied with Kang for the lead coming into the day, was third at 10 under after a 71.
Kang’s previous best finish in a major was a tie for 14th in the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open.
Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., made a strong bid for a second straight title in the event, jumping up the leaderboard three birdies in her first seven holes.
But the Canadian had nine straight pars in the middle of the round.
“I kind of had a mix of really good putts that had a chance to go in, and some that maybe I would have liked to give a better opportunity for,” Henderson said.
Mi Hyang Lee (67), Amy Yang (68) and Sei Young Kim (68) tied for third at 9 under, and Lexi Thompson (69) and Inbee Park (68) were another two strokes back. Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (73) tied for 36th at even par.
Kang received some high-profile support as she tried for her first title since turning pro, hearing from Wayne Gretzky and Caitlyn Jenner — friends from her days at Sherwood Country Club in California — over the weekend.
Four-time major winner Hollis Stacy also reached out, but it was some sage advice from brother Alex that set the tone for her breakout performance.