SAMMIMISH, Wash. – They gathered around the 18th green, giddy with excitement. It was a who’s who of former No. 1 players and major winners. Some were new to the tour. Others have grown up out here. Most were from South Korea, but not all. LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan was in the middle of the group at Sahalee Country Club, taking pictures and organizing the champagne. At one point, a mortified A Lim Kim ran onto the green to pick up a champagne cork that had popped off prematurely.
When it comes to popular winners, it’s hard to imagine anyone getting a bigger group hug from her peers than Amy Yang. The 34-year-old nearly retired a short time ago but held on to win the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in her 75th major championship start.
“I told (caddie) Jan on the 18th fairway, this has been the longest 18 holes I ever played in my career,” said a relieved Yang. “I was that much stressed and felt pressure out there.”
Yang shivered as she walked into the flash area, her clothes soaked from the bubbly affair. The last time the LPGA has seen an 18th green celebration quite so epic was the last time Yang lifted a trophy at the CME Group Tour Championship in November.
“I think it just speaks to what kind of person she is,” said Lydia Ko, who was joined by the likes of Jin Young Ko, Brooke Henderson, Hyo Joo Kim and Haeran Ryu on the 18th. “I said she’s one of the or the nicest person on tour. And when she says stuff it’s genuine.
“All these people aren’t here just for show. Everybody means it.”
It wasn’t just the players who embraced Yang. More than an hour after the last putt dropped at Sahalee, dozens of kids were outside the press area chanting her name.
AMY YANG WINS HER FIRST MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP‼️ 🍾
Watch the celebration on NBC!#KPMGWomensPGA pic.twitter.com/ULAuKgonm4
— KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (@KPMGWomensPGA) June 23, 2024
Washington’s Sahalee Country Club once again proved to be a punishing test, taking out World No. 1 Nelly Korda in dramatic fashion on Friday with a gut-wrenching 81. Through 54 holes, it looked like Lexi Thompson might script something magical, but retirement suddenly looked awfully good on Sunday after a baffling front-nine 43.
Thompson dug deep though, coming home in 31 to salvage a top-10 finish that gets her an invitation back to the KPMG next year, should she want it.
“It was just a tale of two nines,” said Thompson, who was still fairly upbeat after the…
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