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Women’s PGA Championship at Baltusrol
Tournament Previews for Travelers Championship, Women's PGA Championship, and more
Jack Middlebrook
June 21, 2023
Purses
Travelers Championship
Women's PGA Championship
Earth Mondahmin Cup
BMW International Open
Kolon Korea Open
Compliance Solutions Championship
Hankyung Ladies Cup
LPGA - Women's PGA Championship
The year's second major is poised to kick off at the renowned Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. The Women's PGA Championship has an elite field, with last year's victor, In Gee Chun, returning to defend her title.
Baltusrol's storied history adds another chapter this week:
The @KPMGWomensPGA Championship 🏆
Who will etch their name in the history books?
STORY ⬇️
— LPGA (@LPGA)
7:45 PM • Jun 19, 2023
The spotlight continues on Gil Hanse's renovations, focusing on Baltusrol. Echoing his efforts at Los Angeles Country Club, where he restored George Thomas' original design, Hanse's touch at Baltusrol rekindles Tillinghast’s vision for the Lower Course. The revamped course features restored green sizes, bunkering, and tree removal. The finishing stretch should be fun to watch as the course ends with two par 5s.
World number 1, Jin Young Ko, leads the field this week, stepping onto the course following a two-week hiatus. Jin Young recently claimed her second win of the season at the Cognizant Founders Cup, further cementing her place at the top.
Following closely in the rankings, America's Nelly Korda returns to the competition after recuperating from a back injury that has kept her benched for the last month. In her recent press conference, she assured fans that she is pain-free and ready for the challenge Baltusrol presents. Korda hopes to build on her 3rd place finish at the season's first major, The Chevron Championship.
Also vying for the title, Lydia Ko, enters the tournament following a missed cut, aiming to rediscover the form she showcased earlier in the season. World number 4, Lilia Vu, eyes to build momentum after her first major win at The Chevron Championship, despite her performance wavering slightly with two missed cuts and an early exit at the match play event.
Lastly, Rose Zhang is gearing up for her first major as a professional. Fresh off a win in her pro debut, Zhang's game appears ripe for the intensity of the majors. She's slated to start with the morning wave on Thursday alongside Minjee Lee and Lexi Thompson.
PGA Tour - Travelers Championship
The PGA Tour continues its relentless schedule this year, swiftly following up a major with another top-tier event. This week, the Tour's entourage makes its way to Connecticut for the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands.
Last year's champion, Xander Schauffele, is fresh from a top-10 finish at the US Open and looks set to defend his title. The tournament boasts a star-studded line-up, including the top three Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and Rory McIlroy.
TPC River Highlands, an under 7,000-yard course, is a breath of fresh air for the shorter hitters on tour. This presents a prime opportunity for players like Tom Kim and Collin Morikawa, who may not be the longest hitters but have top-notch iron and wedge games, to emerge as favorites.
Sahith Theegala, last year's runner-up, returns to a familiar course still in pursuit of his maiden victory. This familiar territory could provide the momentum he needs to reach the winner's circle. Expect a lot of birdies this week at the Travelers!