21-year-old Chanettee Wannasaen orchestrated a brilliant 4-under 68 on Sunday at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship to capture a share of second with Auston Kim at 1-under par and three shots behind winner Minjee Lee.
Sunday’s tie with Auston Kim for second marked the Thai native’s best finish in a major championship by a lot. Kim made her ninth start in a major with this championship, and the best prior to this T2 finish was a tie for 17th at last year’s Amundi Evian Championship.
Like Kim on Sunday, Wannasaen started her round off with a flurry of birdies on the front nine at six, seven, and nine — and no mistakes on her other six holes-to turn in 3-under 34. The back nine proved an adventure with two bogeys and an eagle after driving the par-4 235-yard 15th hole.
Chanettee Wannasaen still grinding for every birdie! #KPMGWomensPGA pic.twitter.com/M8yYBOjggT
— KPMG Women's PGA Championship (@KPMGWomensPGA) June 22, 2025
“After I made eagle, I saw the scoreboard. Like Minjee still was 4-under or something, right, 3-under. 3-under par, right, after I finished on hole 15,” said. “I was like, yeah, I have chance but just I don’t think about like I'm going to win or something. Just play, because I don't like when I play under the pressure. It's very stressful so I don't like it. I just play what I can do, you know.”
The rising star’s takeaways from an unforgettable week were short, but critical for the rest of the summer as two more majors loom on the immediate horizon-including the AIG Women’s Open next month at Royal Porthcawl in Wales.
“I came here for this tournament with positive things, like (to want to) make a cut. And then made the best what I can do,” Wannasaen said. “Yes, I can do better and much better than last year.”
Wannasaen missed the cut at Sahalee last year by nine shots, at 14-over par for the week after a 73-85 performance. Shooting 12-over par for one round is a far cry from the kind of game she’s had on display in all four rounds this week. Though she opened with 3-over 75 on Thursday, the 21-year-old did a great job of limiting mistakes and went 4-under par for the rest of the week.
“Today I played really good,” Wannasaen said. “Like approach shot (were) much better than yesterday, and it (wasn’t) too much windy today. I think conditions (were) not as hard like yesterday because no wind too much.
“The golf course was so tough. Like it's a major,” Wannasaen said. “That’s why like conditions (were) very tough. It makes sense.”
Wannasaen announced her presence in the women’s game with her 4-shot maiden LPGA Tour win at the age of 19 in the 2023 Portland Classic. And this week’s pivotal Sunday and career-best finish in a major is only another building block in her young and budding career.
