How the 5 major champions in 2022 hung tough down the stretch

It’s not easy sleeping on a lead. Especially when that Sunday tee time creeps well past lunchtime.

For the first time since 1998, the winners of every LPGA major in a season held the 54-hole lead. The four majors in 1998 were won by Pat Hurst, Brandie Burton and Se Ri Pak (twice).

This year’s group hailed from five different countries, and two were first-timers. Minjee Lee enjoyed the most consistent year in the majors, which earned her the Rolex Annika Major Award. She posted four top-12 finishes in the five majors, with her worst showing, T-43, coming at the Amundi Evian Championship.

Lee ended the major season with the best cumulative score to par at 34-under, eight strokes better than In Gee Chun.

For everyone but Lee, winning a major in 2022 proved stressful til the bitter end, as big leads vanquished in the blink of an eye.

“If it’s going to be too easy, then I feel it is boring,” said Chun with a smile after her seven-stroke lead on Saturday was cut to three at the KPMG Women’s PGA.

Both Ashleigh Buhai at the AIG Women’s British Open and Chun at the KPMG carded final-round 75s, tying the highest final-round score at an LPGA major in the last 10 years (Inbee Park, 2013 KPMG Women’s PGA). The last major winner with a higher final-round score was Donna Caponi, who shot 77 at the U.S. Women’s Open 52 years ago.

And now, a look back on how the five major champions of 2022 managed to close the deal:

Jennifer Kupcho – Chevron Championship

Jennifer Kupcho of the United States celebrates with The Dinah Shore Trophy after winning The Chevron Championship at The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa on April 03, 2022, in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Jennifer Kupho built a six-shot lead heading into the final round of the Chevron Championship thanks to a sizzling 64 on Saturday. Turns out she’d need it all come Sunday when the smooth ride took a turn at the midway point.

As Kupcho went cold with bogeys on Nos. 8, 10, 13 and 14, Jessica Korda cranked up the heat, getting within two strokes with four to play. Kupcho held on though, despite bogeys on the last two holes, carding a closing 74 to win by two strokes and make her first LPGA victory a major.

“It’s special,” said Kupcho. “Honestly, I think one of the biggest things I’ve fought over the last year and a half is everyone is out here cheering for Nelly or Lexi or someone else I’m playing with. I…