by You may not believe us at this point, but we have another major this week! The Women’s PGA Championship kicks off on Thursday, a mere four days after the final putts dropped at Torrey Pines. Grab an energy drink and some trail mix if you’re tired.
The house that Keegan built
Three weeks after the U.S. Women’s Open and days after the U.S. Open, the best female golfers in the world are ready to tackle Atlanta Athletic Club for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. AAC has hosted a women’s major before, the 1990 U.S. Women’s Open, but that was on the club’s Riverside Course. This is the first time a women’s major has been contested on the Highlands Course, the same course where Keegan Bradley and David Toms won their PGA Championships. KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Tee Times
Storylines
Elevated sites – Like the USGA, the PGA of America is making a conscious effort to take women’s championships to venues with real history and status in the game. Atlanta Athletic Club, while not our favorite course, fits that bill. So do Congressional and Baltusrol, the 2022 and 2023 hosts of the Women’s PGA.
C’mon Nelly – Instead of focusing on the fact that an American woman hasn’t won a major since 2018 (as we’ve done in the past, admittedly), we’re going to highlight an American who should win one. Nelly Korda has played phenomenal golf over the past two years and is coming off a victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic. With 25 major appearances to date, the 22-year-old seems primed to win her first major title.
That said… – As well as Nelly has played lately, the woman to beat remains world No. 1 Jin Young Ko. She hasn’t finished worse than T-7 in any of her past five major appearances and seems to elevate her game on big stages. While Ko hasn’t captured a major since 2019, that “drought” is bound to end soon.
Hollow rings
Many of the women vying for the title at Atlanta Athletic Club can’t wait to tee it up at the Olympics in just over a month. This week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship marks the final week of women’s qualifying for Tokyo. For the men, last week’s U.S. Open was the final chance.
Since the close of Olympic qualifying for the men, many top names have dropped out. Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick opted out of the English squad, opening a spot for Tommy Fleetwood. Sergio García (Spain) , Martin Kaymer (Germany), and Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) all said no thanks on Tuesday. Expect more players to announce their final decisions this week.
There are many factors at play here, but the simple fact is that winning an Olympic medal in golf isn’t a priority for many PGA Tour players. The Games are scheduled close to the FedEx Cup, and the top men all know which of those offers more money. Given time, the Olympic medal may become more valuable in the men’s game (though we’re sure Sungjae Im would like to get one to avoid his mandatory military service!). On the women’s side, however, the Olympic Games already have cachet, and the competition is certain to be fierce in Tokyo.
Quick Hooks
Despite having to travel from San Diego, California, to Hartford, Connecticut, many big names are in attendance at the Travelers Championship this weekend. Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Cantlay, and Tony Finau headline the field. Tee Times
Have you ever watched a professional golf tournament in Maine? We haven’t. Will we be able to this week? Probably not, unless we get a last-minute flight over there. The Live and Work in Maine Open will kick off on the Korn Ferry Tour this weekend, the first KFT event in the state. Tee Times
While other players are opting out, the U.S. contingent of Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, and Xander Schauffele appears set to make the trip to the Olympics. Full Story from Golf Channel
Bryson started it, says Brooks. Full Story from Golf Digest
The Latest from The Fried Egg
Event Sign-Ups – We released registrations for two new events yesterday! The Regatta at White Bear Yacht Club will be held on 9/13, while The Aftermath at Pine Hills CC will take place on 9/27, the day after the Ryder Cup and right up the road from Whistling Straits. Mark your calendars: registrations open on Tuesday, June 22 at 12 p.m. ET.
Paulie’s Picks: Travelers Championship – Use a big name or go with an underdog? Paulie has your Travelers picks for DraftKings and one-and-done leagues.
Shotgun Start: Morrrre majors, Joey Crawford Championship, and a chat with Cam Smith
This Wednesday episode begins with an unplanned discussion on the U.S. Open’s identity. Has some of the luster of the championship been taken away with the PGA coming right in front of it now? And is Jason Gore more or less helping set up controversy-free courses that have taken some of the sizzle out of it? Then Andy and Brendan move to the event of the week, the Women’s PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club, another Rees Jones renovation. There are three things to watch, revolving around the American drought and Olympics qualifying closing. For the Travelers, they delight in some “notables” categories in a field that’s completely loaded for the week after a major. To both of their surprise, there is a major on the Senior Tour this week, and it is perhaps the most extreme pushing of the boundaries on that term, “major.” They ponder whether having a KFT event in Maine will make people want to live and/or work in Maine, as the title suggests. News hits on the run of Olympics withdrawals on the men’s side as well as some intel from the ground on the Stella case of beer. Lastly, they are joined by Cam Smith for a rare guest interview from the Travelers. Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify.
Pro Shop
Come hang out at an event! Spots are still available for our events at Blue Mound and Davenport, along with the newly opened get-togethers at Pine Hills and White Bear Yacht Club. Reserve your spot today!
