Latest news with #MeijerLPGAClassic
Hindustan Times
9 minutes ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Semi-retired Lexi Thompson going into weekend at KPMG Women's PGA contending for another major
FRISCO, Texas — Semi-retired Lexi Thompson shot a 2-under 70 in the second round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship on Friday to put herself in position to contend over the weekend for her first major title in more than a decade. HT Image After an even-par round Thursday, Thompson was bogey-free in the second round until her final hole. She finished two strokes behind first-round leader Jeeno Thitikful, the No. 2-ranked player in the world who hadn't yet teed off for her afternoon round when Thompson hit her approach at the 18th into the bunker but couldn't come up with yet another par-saver. It was a quick turnaround for Thompson after a six-hour opening round that ended early Thursday evening. And it was another steamy day Friday on the Fields Ranch East course at PGA Frisco, with feel-like temperatures reaching 100 degrees. Along with the warming temperatures, and caddies being able to remove their bibs while on the course, was the ever-present Texas wind that picked up throughout the day. None of 156 players played without a bogey in the first round, when the average score over 75. The 30-year-old Thompson, who has said last year was her final one playing a full schedule, is in her seventh tournament this season, including all three majors so far. Her only major victory was at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2014, though her 13 top-five finishes in majors since 2013 is the most by any player. Thompson missed the cut at the U.S. Women's Open three weeks ago, but last week was in contention in the final round before tying for fourth at the Meijer LPGA Classic. Her shots to save par Friday were maybe more important than the three birdies — the longest an 11-footer, with a 6 1/2-footer and nearly 4-footer as well. Thompson was only 70 yards from the pin after her tee shot at the 10th, but hit her approach into the bunker and was still 43 feet away after knocking it out of there before a curling right-to-left putt. At the par-5 14th, her 5-foot putt did a 360-degree roll around the lip before falling into the cup. When her approach at No. 18 landed in a bunker right of the flag, Thompson looked upward and then blasted 15 feet past the hole, unable to save par one last time. Only 15 of 156 players broke par Thursday. Thompson had one of the 10 under-par rounds in the early wave of 77 players Friday, the best being Charley Hull's 69 after opening with a 78. golf: /hub/golf This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
USA Today
17 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Yealimi Noh, Lexi Thompson finish strong despite six-hour round at toasty KPMG Womens PGA
Yealimi Noh, Lexi Thompson finish strong despite six-hour round at toasty KPMG Womens PGA FRISCO, Texas – Yealimi Noh and Lexi Thompson birdied two of the last three holes coming down the stretch at the KPMG Women's PGA despite a grueling wait in the heat. There were four groups on the eighth tee at the Field Ranch East course when the marquee group came through Thursday evening. 'It was pretty brutal,' said Thompson of their six-hour round. 'I just drank a lot of water and tried to stay loose when we were in those waits on those holes and stay mentally in it.' The short par-4 seventh at 317 yards lured players into getting as close as possible, with a tricky green, and the par-3 eighth featured an unfriendly hole location. Add in a reachable par 5 to finish, and it all added up to a big backup. 'It was just like wait, wait, wait,' said Thompson. Noh, one of 15 different winners on tour this season, shot 2-under 70 to finish two back of leader Jeeno Thitikul, who made miles of putts in her morning 68. 'My umbrella was the only shade out there,' said Noh of a toasty Texas day. After a sluggish start, Thompson shot even-par 72 to sit in a share of 16th along with world No. 1 Nelly Korda and Rose Zhang. The KPMG marks Thompson's seventh start of the season. She tied for fourth at last week's Meijer LPGA Classic. A total of 15 players broke par in the opening round.
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Sport
- Sky News AU
Golf: Karis Davidson among nine Aussies at Women's PGA Championship
An extended hiatus from golf last year has helped propel Australia's Karis Davidson into arguably career-best form heading into this week's KPMG Women's PGA Championship, her first major in 14 months. The Gold Coast 26-year-old, one of nine Australians in the field, is high on confidence after finishing in a tie for seventh at last week's Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan. 'It was really nice feeling, you know, in the mix to win the event,' Davidson said. 'I'm enjoying (golf) a lot more now, and when you enjoy it, you try harder in more difficult situations on the course.' However, that enjoyment was missing last year, which led to her taking a lengthy break from the game. In that time, Davidson completed a six-month TAFE aged care and disability services course. 'I really wanted to do something productive and just completely different to golf,' she said. 'It was the best thing I've ever done. I learned a lot over the six months. 'After that, I knew that I wanted to play golf for myself because before I felt like I was just doing it for other people, and I think that was unhealthy. 'I was just so wrapped up in my own mind. I just had to take time away from it. 'I'm out here because I want to be, not because it feels like the only option.' Davidson was yet to set her goals for the event starting in Texas on Thursday night (AEST) at the PGA Frisco Fields Ranch East layout but promised to 'commit to every shot'. 'That's such an important thing. You need to be 100 per cent invested in the club and the shot you've chosen,' she said. 'It's going to be a hot week, so I need to be really good with pre, post and during round hydration and what I'm eating. 'I'm trying not to make results-based goals. Obviously, everyone wants to win, if I do those little things well mentally, it'll give me the best chance for the best result I can get.' The other Australians in the field this week are Minjee Lee, Hannah Green, Steph Kyriacou, Gabriela Ruffels, Grace Kim, Cassie Porter, Robyn Choi and Hira Naveed. 'All the (Australian) girls that are out on the tour are hard working, and they're all very resilient,' Davidson said. 'They're all quite laid-back and good with stress. That definitely helps with this type of career. 'The support that we get in Australia with coaches, trainers, psychologists and funding really puts us ahead of other countries in regards to support and encouraging us to do better.' Originally published as Karis Davidson full on confidence ahead of her return to the majors at Women's PGA Championship
The Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Carlota Ciganda ends long LPGA title drought with win at Meijer LPGA Classic
SPANISH stalwart Carlota Ciganda returned to the LPGA winner's circle after a lapse of more than 8½ years with a gritty victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give in Belmont, Michigan. Having started the final round in a six-way tie for the lead, Ciganda birdied the final two holes at Blythefield Country Club for a closing 67 and 16-under-par 272 total. The 35-year-old finished one shot clear of Korean Hye-Jin Choi, who closed with a 68. This was Ciganda's third LPGA title and her first since November 2016, when she won the Citi Banamex Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico by two strokes. Her LPGA title drought had lasted eight years, seven months and two days. 'It feels amazing obviously, after all these years. I knew I could do it, but once the years keep going and you start getting older, you start doubting yourself,' said Ciganda, who has won eight times on the Ladies European Tour including last year's Spanish Open. Ciganda's two closing birdies came from close range, from one foot after a superb approach at the par-four 17th, and from four feet at the par-five 18th after finding the green in two. The final hole birdie avoided a playoff with playing partner Choi, who also made four but had crucially dropped a shot at the 17th. Ciganda noted that she loved the traditional, tree-lined Blythefield layout, as it reminded her of courses in her native Spain. 'It reminds me of where I'm from in the northern part of Spain. Very similar – lots of trees, peaceful. I love the golf course,' said the Arizona State alumna. Ciganda has now matched Beatriz Recari for the most LPGA victories by a Spanish player and is the oldest player to win this season at age 35 years and 14 days. 'For me, age is just a number. I don't feel as fresh as when I was 24, but I still feel I can compete and I can win out here. I love playing. I love Thursday to Sundays. I love competition,' said Ciganda, who is a seven-time European Solheim Cup team member and a three-time Olympian. American star Lexi Thompson showed that she is still a force to be reckoned with despite only playing a part-time schedule, contending for the title until two late bogeys on 16 and 17. The 11-time LPGA winner settled for joint fourth place on 13-under-par 275 with France's Celine Boutier and Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen. 'It's my favourite event on the schedule. The fans are amazing and come out and support women's golf, and that's what we want,' said Thompson, who won this event in 2015 and lost a playoff to compatriot Lilia Vu last year. Another Korean, Somi Lee, shot a superb closing 65 to climb up into third place on 14-under-par 274. The stars of the LPGA Tour will now head to Texas for the third Major of the 2025 season, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Carlota Ciganda ends long LPGA title drought
SPANISH stalwart Carlota Ciganda returned to the LPGA winner's circle after a lapse of more than 8½ years with a gritty victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give in Belmont, Michigan. Having started the final round in a six-way tie for the lead, Ciganda birdied the final two holes at Blythefield Country Club for a closing 67 and 16-under-par 272 total. The 35-year-old finished one shot clear of Korean Hye-Jin Choi, who closed with a 68. This was Ciganda's third LPGA title and her first since November 2016, when she won the Citi Banamex Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico by two strokes. Her LPGA title drought had lasted eight years, seven months and two days. 'It feels amazing obviously, after all these years. I knew I could do it, but once the years keep going and you start getting older, you start doubting yourself,' said Ciganda, who has won eight times on the Ladies European Tour including last year's Spanish Open. Ciganda's two closing birdies came from close range, from one foot after a superb approach at the par-four 17th, and from four feet at the par-five 18th after finding the green in two. The final hole birdie avoided a playoff with playing partner Choi, who also made four but had crucially dropped a shot at the 17th. Ciganda noted that she loved the traditional, tree-lined Blythefield layout, as it reminded her of courses in her native Spain. 'It reminds me of where I'm from in the northern part of Spain. Very similar – lots of trees, peaceful. I love the golf course,' said the Arizona State alumna. Ciganda has now matched Beatriz Recari for the most LPGA victories by a Spanish player and is the oldest player to win this season at age 35 years and 14 days. 'For me, age is just a number. I don't feel as fresh as when I was 24, but I still feel I can compete and I can win out here. I love playing. I love Thursday to Sundays. I love competition,' said Ciganda, who is a seven-time European Solheim Cup team member and a three-time Olympian. American star Lexi Thompson showed that she is still a force to be reckoned with despite only playing a part-time schedule, contending for the title until two late bogeys on 16 and 17. The 11-time LPGA winner settled for joint fourth place on 13-under-par 275 with France's Celine Boutier and Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen. 'It's my favourite event on the schedule. The fans are amazing and come out and support women's golf, and that's what we want,' said Thompson, who won this event in 2015 and lost a playoff to compatriot Lilia Vu last year. Another Korean, Somi Lee, shot a superb closing 65 to climb up into third place on 14-under-par 274. The stars of the LPGA Tour will now head to Texas for the third Major of the 2025 season, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco.
