It wasn’t as easy as it appeared it could have been after Thursday’s record-setting opener, but In Gee Chun won the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship come Sunday evening – and added her name to the history books, too.
Chun, who finished at 5 under for the week and topped Minjee Lee and Lexi Thompson by one, became the fourth golfer all time to win the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship wire to wire.
Chun admitted she battled nerves through her opening nine holes on Sunday and, according to KPMG Performance Insights, her Sunday 75 was the highest final round in a major win since Inbee Park captured the 2013 KPMG Women’s PGA. She also shot 75 that Sunday.
In Gee took Congressional head on and she won. 💪#KPMGWomensPGA pic.twitter.com/GklKXT26n6
— KPMG Women's PGA Championship (@KPMGWomensPGA) June 26, 2022
With the win Chun became the third Korean woman to win three or more majors, joining Park and Se Ri Pak.
“I made it,” said Chun with a laugh on Sunday. “First nine holes I got a lot of pressure, so to be honest, I couldn’t enjoy to play golf. I believe if I stick to my game plan and then I believe I have a chance in the back nine, so I try to hang in there. I’m so happy I made it.”
Chun’s final-round 75 was the highest by any major champion on the LPGA Tour since 2010, per KPMG Performance Insights
Chun’s wire-to-wire victory matched Rory McIlroy’s effort at the 2011 U.S. Open.
Pure Joy.#KPMGWomensPGA pic.twitter.com/6x9cmjT2Bn
— KPMG Women's PGA Championship (@KPMGWomensPGA) June 26, 2022
“I heard all about what Rory McIlroy did from (Congressional),” said Chun. “It was a lot of pressure.”
Despite the Sunday pressure, Chun added her name to the list of 54-hole leaders at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship who managed to take this championship across the finish line. KPMG Performance Insights tells us that five of the last six years the 54-leader or co-leader went on to win the KPMG Women’s PGA.
Thompson, meanwhile, had some unfortunate missed putts down the stretch Sunday and notched her fourth runner-up finish at a major championship since 2015. Per KPMG Performance Insights, that’s the most of any player in that span.
Lee, who has won twice on the LPGA Tour already this season including the U.S. Women’s Open, had a sneaky Sunday.
Her 2-under 70 was one of the rounds of the day, and it moved her into a tie for second. It’s her fourth top-five result at her last five majors and, per KPMG Performance Insights, is 52 strokes under par in those events.
Now we celebrate. 🍾@ingeechun_dumbo | #KPMGWomensPGA pic.twitter.com/dGoH7xoaWa
— KPMG Women's PGA Championship (@KPMGWomensPGA) June 26, 2022
Despite plenty of numbers from KPMG Performance Insights that showed how much firepower was in the chasing pack, there was a number that mattered to Chun come Sunday night more than any other.
One.
Her position on the leaderboard at the conclusion of the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
