Women's_PGA_Championship

Women's PGA Championship

Women's PGA Championship

Golf tournament in the United States

The Women's PGA Championship (branded as the KPMG Women's PGA Championship for sponsorship reasons) is a women's professional golf tournament. First held in 1955, it is one of five majors on the LPGA Tour. It is not recognized as a major by the Ladies European Tour, which does not recognize any of the three majors played in the United States.

Quick Facts Tournament information, Location ...
Congressional Country Club
Congressional Country Club
Location in the United States
Congressional Country Club
Congressional Country Club
Location in Maryland

Formerly known as the LPGA Championship, the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) announced in 2014 that the PGA of America would become a partner of the event, and that it would be renamed the Women's PGA Championship beginning in 2015—becoming a sister event to the men's PGA Championship (in a similar manner to the U.S. Women's Open being a sister event to the men's U.S. Open). The partnership included a new title sponsorship agreement with KPMG, an increase in purse, and a commitment by NBC to provide network television coverage of the weekend rounds.[3]

The PGA of America partnership also allowed the tournament to be held at various top courses around the United States. Previously, the LPGA Championship had been usually held at a consistent location each year, most recently near Rochester, New York as part of a title sponsorship agreement with Western New York–based supermarket chain Wegmans.

Professional-amateur controversy

Prior to 2005, the LPGA Championship had a "professionals only" rule. This is similar to the men's PGA Championship, but contrasts with the U.S. and British Opens, which have long had both amateur and professional entrants through qualifying (henceforth the term "open"). Until its takeover by the PGA of America in 2015, the tournament was the LPGA's own event, and the LPGA was created specifically to provide opportunities for women in professional golf.

In 2005 this rule was revoked, effectively to allow 15-year-old amateur Michelle Wie to compete, in order to attract more media coverage and sell more tickets, though this was not publicly acknowledged by the LPGA. Some professionals objected to this move, as they felt that places given to amateurs would come at the expense of the LPGA Tour's less successful professionals, who need to play regularly to make a living. One of the leading professionals, Laura Davies, stated objections to the change were shortsighted.[4]

At the time, Wie had made the cut in all five majors that she had played, with two top-ten finishes, and had also played twice in the Sony Open in Hawaii on the PGA Tour, but missed both cuts. Despite the controversy, she outscored all but one of the pros in the 2005 LPGA Championship and was the runner-up, three strokes behind three-time champion Annika Sörenstam.

In 2006, the LPGA Championship reverted to its "professionals only" status, with only pros in the field.[citation needed] Wie had turned professional the previous October, upon signing multimillion-dollar endorsement contracts with Nike, Sony, and other sponsors.

Tournament names

Tournament names through the years:

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Winners

See also: List of Women's PGA Championship champions
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Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.

Source:[5]

Multiple champions

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Career Grand Slam winners ‡

Source:[5]

The defending champion has retained the title on seven occasions, most recently in 2015:

  • 2015 – Inbee Park
  • 2014 – Inbee Park
  • 2005 – Annika Sörenstam
  • 2004 – Annika Sörenstam
  • 2000 – Juli Inkster
  • 1984 – Patty Sheehan
  • 1961 – Mickey Wright

Through 2022, three consecutive championships has been achieved only twice, by Sörenstam (2005) and Park (2015).

Sites by state

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Future sites

Since the PGA of America took control of the tournament, venues will often bid for both a men's, women's, and seniors' PGA Championship together. Aronimink Golf Club, which hosted the men's in 1962 and seniors in 2003, was awarded a joint bid for the 2020 women's and 2027 men's. Congressional Country Club was awarded the 2025 seniors and both the 2022 and 2027 women's championships. Baltusrol Golf Club, which had hosted the 2005 and 2016 men's championships, was awarded the 2023 women's and 2029 men's championships together. The tournament will also be held at the PGA of America's new home in Frisco, Texas.

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M = Denotes PGA Championship
S = Denotes Senior PGA Championship

References

  1. [1]
    "KPMG Women's PGA Championship". LPGA. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  2. [2]
    "Overview LPGA Ladies Professional Golf Association". LPGA. June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  3. [3]
    Sirak, Ron. "LPGA joins forces with PGA of America, will rebrand the LPGA Championship the Women's PGA". Golf Digest. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  4. [4]
    Dixon, Peter (June 14, 2005). "Wie provides the perfect response for her doubters". Times Online. Retrieved June 6, 2008.
  5. [5]
    "KPMG Women's PGA Championship". LPGA. (Past Winners). Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  6. [6]
    "PGA to bring Ryder Cup, other top events to Congressional". ESPN. Associated Press. September 18, 2018.
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