[PHOTO: Steph Chambers]

Lexi Thompson downplayed that announcing her retirement was the key to rediscovering her prime form. The 29-year-old shared at the US Women’s Open that this would be her final season of full-time play on the LPGA Tour. After missing the cut at Lancaster Country Club, she has played some of her best golf in years.

Thompson was topped by Lilia Vu in last week’s Meijer LPGA Classic in a three-way playoff. The American continued her stellar play with a four-under 68 in the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to take the outright lead after the first round of a major for the first time in her 13-year career.

Lexi Thompson announces her retirement

“I don’t think that has to do anything with announcing what I did,” Thompson said. “It’s just a matter of being comfortable out there and playing free-swing Lexi and just enjoying being out there every step of the way.”

Thompson felt she found something in her swing on Tuesday of last week that allowed her to slow down her tempo, unlocking a free-flowing nature. In her last five rounds, she has hit 78.9 percent of greens in regulation, more than 8 percent higher than her season average (70.5 percent). She hit 14 greens in her opening round at Sahalee Country Club.

After starting poorly in her past two events, Nelly Korda jumps out quickly in search of second major this year

Thompson also credited her success to starting to work with long-time friend Mark Wallington last week. The veteran caddie’s consistent positive affirmations keep Thompson lighthearted and happy on the course. The tandem made a needed birdie on the 72nd hole to get into a playoff at Blythefield Country Club last week, then birdied the first two playoff holes before Vu birdied the third extra hole for the win.

“I don’t know if it was the atmosphere of the event and just enjoying being out there, and just felt more free and enjoyed myself a lot more,” Thompson said. “So it kind of just all clicked.”

Lexi Thompson with the field high!

Make it 6⃣ birdies on the day #KPMGWomensPGA pic.twitter.com/VZTp8qlslD

— KPMG Women's PGA Championship (@KPMGWomensPGA) June 21, 2024

Thompson remained on fire amid the towering trees in Washington state with her ball-striking. She didn’t have a putt outside five feet for birdie over her first three holes, jumping to three-under and tied at the top of the leaderboard. A birdie on the ninth completed a clean opening side with a four-under 32. Thompson carded six birdies to tie her with Nelly Korda for the most birdies despite hitting only six fairways.

“I played solid golf,” Thompson said. “I just try to stay in the moment. There’s a lot of tough holes out there. So just try to visualise and really pick small targets, and just take advantage of the few birdie opportunities that you get out there.”

Thompson is contending in a major for the first time since the 2022 Women’s PGA, where she squandered a two-stroke lead with three holes to play at the Congressional’s Blue course. Her group-mate at Sahalee Country Club today, Yuka Saso, was the beneficiary of Thompson’s back-nine collapse in the 2021 US Women’s Open at the Olympic Club. Thompson lost a five-shot lead before missing out on a playoff that Saso won over Nasa Hataoka. Since then, she has struggled in majors.

Thompson has only made one cut in the past seven majors, that coming in last year’s Women’s PGA, where she tied for 47th place. Before today, she had not broken 70 in a major since the second round at Congressional two years ago. The 11-time LPGA winner’s lone major title came at the 2014 ANA Inspiration a decade ago.

When asked if she could see herself changing her retirement decision should she win a big title, Thompson did not definitively commit to that decision.

“I figured I would be getting that question,” Thompson said. “I’m just taking it one day at a time. I made my announcement. I’m very content with it. Golf is a crazy game, so I’m not going to look too far ahead. Just taking it one day at a time and see where it takes me.”

Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Hannah Green’s love affair with the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Pacific North-West of the US continued during the first round at Sahalee, where she tops the eight-strong Australian contingent.

Out early alongside world No.1 Korda, who signed for three-under to share second with Patty Tavatanakit to sit one behind Thompson, Green opened with a one-under 71 to sit in a tie for 15th after starting her day with a bang.

The 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA champion got underway with back-to-back birdies after teeing off the 10th hole, where Green struck her 134-metre second shot inside three feet for the best imaginable start.

Bogey at the 14th and a third birdie at 16 saw the world No.5 make the turn in two-under before recovering from two bogeys in the middle of her second nine at the final hole of the day.

Sitting even-par, Green struck another pure iron shot from 162 metres at the par-3 ninth, where she rolled in a 16-foot birdie putt to be the lone Australian under par and well placed as she chases a third win in 2024.

Missing out on a win of her own in a play-off last week, Grace Kim is the next best of the Australians after opening with a one-over 73 that was made better late in her round when the Sydneysider dropped a 35-foot birdie putt at the par-3 17th to join a tie for 36th.

Similarly ending her day on a high, Steph Kyriacou birdied the par-5 18th to sign for an opening two-over 74, with the 23-year-old alongside Gabi Ruffels and Minjee Lee in a share for 54th.

Ruffels looked set for another enjoyable day at the majors after making the turn in one-under, having started from the 10th before a rollercoaster five-hole stretch which included four bogeys and a birdie.

Opening her first round with a bogey, it was steady stuff around the ultra-narrow Sahalee for Lee, who entered as one of the pre-tournament favourites.

At one-over through nine holes, the two-time major champion mixed two bogeys and a birdie at the par-3 13th after a trademark flushed iron to seven feet to end the day two-over and six behind Thompson.

LPGA rookie Robyn Choi and veteran Sarah Kemp are the next best of the Australians sitting middle of the field after their first rounds of 75 to be three-over and tied for 70th, with Kiwi Lydia Ko on the same score after a final-hole birdie on her return to Sahalee where she lost in a playoff in 2016.

Making her championship debut, Hira Naveed rounds out the Aussies after finishing the first day 10-over-par.

The post Insisting retirement is not the reason why she’s swinging freely, Lexi Thompson (68) leads KPMG Women’s PGA appeared first on Australian Golf Digest.

[PHOTO: Ezra Shaw]

Nelly Korda’s first round has not treated her kindly in her past two starts. The six-time winner in 2024 carded a 10 on her third hole in the US Women’s Open for an opening 10-over 80 and went out in four-over through three holes in the Meijer LPGA Classic last week on her way to a four-over 76. She couldn’t recover enough to make either cut.

Ahead of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Korda and long-time caddie Jason McDede subtly changed their club-selection process to give the 25-year-old more responsibility on her club choices at Sahalee Country Club.

“Some weeks I get a little too reliant on him, let’s say, where it comes to the decision that I want to make going into the greens,” Korda explained. “This week we decided that he was just going to give me the number, he was going to tell me how far I should land it, and then I’m going to make my decision based off that so I’m a little bit more confident with it. He’s going to disagree or agree, but for the majority it was a lot of agreeing today, so it was good.”

The change turned into a three-under 69, putting Korda near the top of the leaderboard in Sammamish, Washington. Korda started her round with sister Jessica and nephew Greyson watching on the 10th tee. The 4-month-old wore a turtle outfit Aunt Nelly picked out for him. With her family watching, Korda blasted her first tee shot 299 metres then parked her 75-metre second to inside four feet for an opening birdie.

Korda briefly dropped back to even par with a bogey on the 12th before carding three straight birdies on holes 13 to 15. The No.1 player in the world displayed deft touch with her club selection, hitting it to eight feet on the 141-metre par-3 13th, 16 feet on the 341-metre par-4 14th, and four-and-a-half feet on the 371-metre par-4 15th, the second hardest hole on the course in the opening round.

Slowing things down with @NellyKorda in Round 1#KPMGWomensPGA pic.twitter.com/PQR9BQeLez

— KPMG Women's PGA Championship (@KPMGWomensPGA) June 20, 2024

“I just hit the fairways honestly,” Korda said. “That’s the tough part about the golf course here. If you don’t hit the fairway you don’t get to be aggressive. You can’t take your opportunities.”

Korda birdied 44 percent of the holes when she reached the fairway. She didn’t make any from the five times she drove it into the rough. Korda got to four under with a birdie on the third, then double-bogeyed the fourth to drop back to two under. Korda stabilised the rest of the round, birdieing her final hole in her three-under effort.

The steady-handed rebound after the double-bogey came from a lesson learned repeatedly in Korda’s career, most recently after missing the cut in her last two events. Korda shared that she witnessed several athletes, including her brother Sebastian, a professional tennis player, and Jessica deal with up-and-down career moments. The key for Korda, who had won six of seven starts, including five-in-a-row culminating with her second major at the Chevron Championship, was remaining positive and reaffirming the talent inside of her.

“You can’t dwell on the past,” Korda said. “You just have to focus 100 percent on what’s lying right in front of you. That’s just the attitude you have to have. You have to have short-term memory loss out here.”

While the Floridian was happy about her round, she glowed gleefully when talking about her post-round plans. Korda spent most of Wednesday cuddling with Greyson and planned to do the same with him on Thursday afternoon. His laughter, Korda explained, lets her feel pure happiness and provides a different perspective away from the course.

“It’s so nice to have them out here,” Korda said. “I haven’t seen her in a while. She came out early to support me on the first day, and I can’t be more thankful.”

The post After starting poorly in her past two events, Nelly Korda jumps out quickly in search of second major this year appeared first on Australian Golf Digest.

[PHOTO: Getty Images]

Major winners Minjee Lee and Hannah Green will spearhead an eight-strong Australian contingent at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, but Sydney’s Grace Kim arrives as the most in-form having tied for second after a crushing playoff loss on the LPGA Tour last week.

The third women’s major of the year, the PGA Championship, heads to former men’s major and PGA Tour host course, Sahalee Country Club, near Seattle in Washington state. Driving will be paramount given Sahalee’s narrow, treelined fairways.

Two-time major winner Lee and 2019 PGA champion Hannah Green, Australia’s top-ranked golfer at world No.5, will be pumped up knowing they are both guaranteed to be the Australian women’s team for the Paris Olympics when the women’s world rankings are finalised for the games on Monday (June 24). Green won her second LPGA Tour title of 2024 in April at the LA Championship in April – the only player other than world No.1 Nelly Korda to claim multiple wins in 2024. Lee is coming off a devastating back nine at the US Women’s Open earlier this month when she squandered a three-shot lead to finish tied ninth.

Joining Australia’s two major winners at Sahalee are Kim, Sarah Kemp, LPGA Tour rookie-of-the-year points leader Gabi Ruffels, Steph Kyriacou, Hira Naveed and Robyn Choi.

Kim took a five-shot lead into the final round of the Meijer event but coughed it up within the first four holes. The 23-year-old fought hard just to make a playoff that she lost to Lilia Vu. Afterwards, Kim was inspirational in vowing to bounce back.

Find out all you need to know at the bottom of this story about the eight Australians teeing it up (courtesy Australian Golf Media).

Meanwhile, on the PGA Tour, the $US20 million Travelers Championship will have three Australians tee up in Jason Day, Cam Davis and Adam Scott. Min Woo Lee missed out on qualifying for the event, even though a T-21 at the US Open was among the top-25s Lee has earned in 50 percent of his PGA Tour events this year. Despite being a colourful character, social media star and sponsor’s dream, Lee did not receive a sponsor’s invitation to the 71-man Travelers field.

LIV Golf heads to Nashville for a brand new event a week after its biggest star, Bryson DeChambeau, won his second major at the US Open. Cam Smith, Lucas Herbert, Marc Leishman and Matt Jones line up for the all-Australian Ripper GC.

GUIDE TO THE WOMEN’S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP INCLUDING AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS (courtesy Australian Golf Media):

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Ruoning Yin (CHN)

PRIZEMONEY: US$10 million

LIVE SCORES: www.kpmgwomenspgachampionship.com

TV COVERAGE: The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.

*All times AEST.

Round One: Friday 6am–8am (Fox Sports 505/Kayo) & 8am–12pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)

Round Two: Saturday 6am–8am (Fox Sports 505/Kayo) & 8am–12pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)

Round Three: Sunday 3am–8am (Fox Sports 505/Kayo) & 8am–10am (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)

Final Round: Monday 2am–9am (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)

AUSTRALASIAN PLAYER PROFILES

ROBYN CHOI

World ranking: 304

Age: 26

Professional wins: None

Best finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA: Debut

The lowdown: For the second time this year, Choi will make her debut at a women’s major, with the Gold Coast product hoping to again play the weekend as she did when sharing 54th at The Chevron Championship.

After starting her first year on the LPGA Tour with a top-20 back in January, it has been a difficult run for Choi with more missed cuts than made on her results page, however, the course fit here is a positive.

Very straight off the tee, Choi will put herself in play and likely need less pitch outs than others around the extremely tight and densely tree-lined Sahalee.

HANNAH GREEN

World ranking: 5

Age: 27

Professional wins: 12

Best finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA: Won (2019)

The lowdown: The champion of this event back in 2019, Green enters this week as one of the favourites after a magnificent first half to her year.

Twice a winner in 2024, the world No.5 also has three top-20s to her name, including a runner-up three starts back.

The West Australian’s form has been driven by ball striking and putting, with Green hitting 72 percent of greens in regulation for the year and ranking first in ‘Putts per GIR’ on the LPGA Tour this year.

Those strengths bode well for another major run, with accuracy off the tee likely the key factor for Green’s chances this week.

SARAH KEMP

World ranking: 139

Age: 38

Professional wins: 12

Best finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA: T37 (2014)

The lowdown: Kemp will play the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship for the 14th time this week, with the 38-year-old making the cut and sharing 64th the last time Sahalee hosted this event back in 2016.

A missed cut two weeks ago ended a consistent run of form where Kemp regularly finished mid-field, with a best result of sharing 29th at the US Women’s Open, her second made cut from two major starts this year.

Hitting more than 72 percent of fairways this year, Kemp’s accuracy and short game will hold her in good stead this week.

GRACE KIM

World ranking: 69

Age: 23

Professional wins: Four

Best finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA: 14th (2023)

The lowdown: Arriving in the best form of the Australian contingent after missing out in a play-off last week, Kim’s confidence will be high after leading into the final round in Michigan.

Speaking openly after her close call last week, Kim is clearly becoming more and more comfortable on the LPGA Tour, where she already has a win to her name.

Finishing in the top-15 on debut at this event last year, the tournament setup clearly suits Kim, whose extremely straight driving and ball flight are the perfect match for the narrow corridors of Sahalee.

LYDIA KO

World ranking: 15

Age: 27

Professional wins: 28

Best finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA: 2nd (2016)

The lowdown: One of the most decorated players in women’s golf, Ko’s form has been hot and cold in 2024 after starting the year with a win and runner-up, the Kiwi arrives on the back of two missed cuts.

The return to Sahalee will be a welcome one for Ko, who finished runner-up to Brooke Henderson there in 2016 after a magnificent battle with the Canadian.

Not as straight a driver as she was then, Ko’s short game remains elite in every facet and will need to fire this week if she is to win a third major title.

STEPH KYRIACOU

World ranking: 90

Age: 23

Professional wins: Two

Best finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA: T10 (2022)

The lowdown: Finishing in a share of 10th on debut at the this event two years ago, Kyriacou made the cut last year again and heads to Washington on the back of her best finish of the year to date on the LPGA.

Tied for 12th at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, Kyriacou has shown promising signs all year and should find Sahalee exactly to her liking and strengths.

A straight driver of the ball, quality ball striker and good putter, Kyriacou can go low even on the toughest of courses, and if the putter is working well could be right in the thick of things.

MINJEE LEE

World ranking: 10

Age: 28

Professional wins: 13

Best finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA: T2 (2022)

The lowdown: Surprisingly missing the cut last week after her close call at the US Women’s Open, Minjee will be right up for this one after again thriving in a major two starts ago.

Making nine cuts from nine starts at this event, it is safe to assume Lee will be in the mix over the weekend at Sahalee where she finished in a share of 12th back in 2016.

Another of the Aussies who will need to find for more fairways than usual this week, Lee’s ball striking, which is among the best in golf, will offer up plenty of birdie opportunities, while her presence on the leaderboard is an intangible advantage against the field.

HIRA NAVEED

World ranking: 103

Age: 26

Professional wins: One

Best finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA: Debut

The lowdown: Experiencing another first in 2024 with her tournament debut, Naveed will be better for the experience of her first major at The Chevron, while she arrives in some good form.

Having missed a hat-trick of cuts, Naveed finished tied for 60th at the ShopRite LPGA Classic before sharing 17th last week at the Meijer LPGA Classic, where she closed with a 68.

On the greens is where the West Australian has been most impressive so far this year, with a hot putter a handy attribute at every major championship.

GABI RUFFELS

World ranking: 41

Age: 24

Professional wins: Three

Best finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA: T24 (2023)

The lowdown: This is another major where Ruffels has an impressive record from a small sample size, with the Victorian finishing tied for 33rd in 2021 and sharing 24th last year.

Finishing third three times in 2024 after her three win season on the Epson Tour last year, Ruffels appears close to a first LPGA win, and it coming at a major wouldn’t surprise given her record on the biggest stage.

Making an impressive up-and-down to make the cut at the US Women’s Open, Ruffels was tied for 17th last week following a strong weekend and she continues to perform impressively across every statistical category.

The post Aussie preview: Women’s PGA Championship preview, plus PGA Tour and LIV Golf appeared first on Australian Golf Digest.

After six stagings of the Australian Women’s Classic between 2018 and 2024, Bonville Golf Resort’s management has decided it is time for others to host the event. The tournament, which attracts Australian and international tour pros from around the globe, has helped showcase the Coffs Coast as an incredible destination to visit and helped elevate Bonville’s brand to new heights.

“We are very proud of what we achieved with the event having full Ladies European Tour status and being run jointly by LET, WPGA and GolfNSW” says Bonville Golf Resort general manager Brad Daymond. “The Australian Women’s Classic broke new boundaries, allowing women to play an LET event in golf carts, which was previously unheard of. We enjoyed watching the development of many rising stars, none more so than Steph Kyriacou, who won the event in 2020 as an amateur and went on to turn pro and then be named Rookie of the Year on the Ladies European Tour. Other notable winners include inaugural champion Celine Boutier, a young Frenchwoman who has since notched up 12 other wins and has risen to the No.4-ranked female golfer in the world.”

Dame Laura Davies was also a great supporter of the event and a prolific tournament winner, amassing 87 professional wins worldwide. The World Golf Hall of Fame inductee played three Australian Women’s Classics, lighting up the golf course at every turn.

“We are grateful for the opportunity the event has presented Bonville to grow its brand and its reputation in the golf world,” Daymond says. “We would like to thank Local Member Gurmesh Singh and his predecessor Andrew Fraser, Destination NSW, Golf NSW, WPGA, Ladies European Tour, City of Coffs Harbour and particularly major local sponsors Geoff King Motors and C.ex Group for their support of the event during its time at Bonville. We also could not have staged the event without the support of the Bonville members and others in the local golf community who opened their homes to billet most of the International players and also gave their time to assist in marshalling throughout each event.”

“We are happy to pass the mantle on and wish the event the greatest success in future years,” Daymond added. “It is time for others to enjoy and grow the event, so that we at Bonville can focus on the continual improvements to the property that’s helped us be awarded ‘Australia’s Favourite Golf Course’ seven years in a row and ensure our members and guests continue to receive a wonderful Bonville experience. Hopefully the event will stay in our region to further showcase our wonderful geographic location to a broad audience.”

The post Australian Women’s Classic to leave Bonville appeared first on Australian Golf Digest.

[PHOTO: Otto Greule Jnr]

The shot that changed Brooke Henderson’s career trajectory is now immortalised with a plaque at Sahalee Country Club. In the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Henderson blitzed the back nine in four under for a final-round 65, tying her with world No.1 Lydia Ko and sending her back to the 18th hole for a playoff.

Then 18, Henderson had 140 metres in on the first extra hole and nestled her approach three feet from the cup. She cleaned up the birdie for her first career major title, which gave Henderson a new vision of what her career could become.

“[The win] definitely changed my life back in 2016,” Henderson explained. “I received a lot more attention from the fans and the media, and just what I believed I could do moving forward I think changed.

“[It] felt like anything was possible after this victory.”

Ranking the top 25 players in KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

She carried the confidence from her second-career victory into one of the more consistent careers in the modern LPGA. Henderson now has 13 titles, winning at least once in eight of her 10 seasons on the LPGA Tour. Henderson has strung up multiple Canadian accolades, becoming the ‘winningest’ player, male or female, in her country’s professional golf history five years ago at the Meijer LPGA Classic, when she won for the ninth time. The 26-year-old became Canada’s only multiple-time major champion with her victory at the 2022 Evian Championship.

Sahalee will always be special for @BrookeHenderson! #KPMGWomensPGA pic.twitter.com/n3DVp7qinq

— KPMG Women's PGA Championship (@KPMGWomensPGA) June 19, 2024

Henderson has also kept her inner circle consistent by keeping it a family affair. Her dad, Dave, is her swing coach, and her sister Brittany has been her caddie since 2015. Brittany still drives the Kia K900 that Henderson won from the 2016 Women’s PGA with her first-round ace on the par-3 13th hole. Henderson remains consistent even with her equipment tinkering. Ahead of her breakthrough major victory, she switched putters on the Tuesday ahead of the championship. On Tuesday this year, she switched flatsticks from a TaylorMade Spider to a TP Reserve M37.

“Hoping to rekindle some magic there,” Henderson explained.

The course, which is just south of the Canadian border, has towering Cedar and Douglas Fir trees, making the narrow Sahalee layout visually intimidating. Henderson felt chills and a smile during her 18-hole pro-am on Tuesday as she recalled the mostly ups and few downs from eight years ago among the majestic Salahee views in Sammamish, Washington.

“This is just such a special place and so beautiful,” Henderson said. “Outside of golf I love spending time in nature, so here is the best of both. You feel like you’re in amongst all the nature in the forest, but you’re actually playing golf so it’s perfect.”

Henderson started the 2024 season with five top 10s in her first eight starts, including a T-3 in the Chevron Championship. She feels like she is trending back to early-season form from her past few events, posting a T-27 in the ShopRite LPGA Classic and a T-34 in last week’s Meijer event. Along with the plaque, Henderson received an honorary membership at Sahalee, making the launchpad of her 13-win career a new home.

“Just thinking back, I’m proud of the journey that I’ve been on these past eight years since that win,” she said, “and I think [I am] just continuing to try to grow and get better and push forward.”

The post Brooke Henderson returns to the Women’s PGA at Sahalee, the place that changed her life 8 years ago appeared first on Australian Golf Digest.

[PHOTO: Cody Richardson]

The number of Australian golf clubs to become signatories of the R&A Women in Golf Charter, fostering change and promoting equal opportunities for women, girls, and families, has officially hit the 100 mark.

Pacific Golf Club in Brisbane, the milestone-setting club, hosted a special ceremony on Tuesday to recognise the achievement with Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland and the R&A’s director of golf education Jackie Davidson among the guests.

Clubs across Australia have pledged their allegiance to the charter, which supports increased participation and leadership for women and girls in golf while also supporting the clubs to become the best version of themselves.

Australia’s first signatory came in 2021, with the 50th club officially committing to the charter almost one year ago to the day.

Strength is in numbers and 100 is a milestone worth celebrating, as well as an extremely positive sign for Australian golf that its clubs are engaged with the concept and showing intent to change the industry for the better.

At the 100th signing ceremony, Davidson spoke of the encouraging uptake that has occurred globally, with more than 1,300 R&A Charter signatories around the world.

“I would like to acknowledge and thank Golf Australia for their continued commitment to the Women in Golf Charter, but also to the golf clubs who are the champions at the grass roots of the sport in Australia,” she said. “Thank you for creating an inclusive environment that welcomes and encourages people to become lifelong golfers.

“The Women in Golf Charter has really galvanised the golf industry around a shared vision for golf and driven change. Since 2018 we have seen [more than] 1,300 organisations in 75 countries, including Australia make their commitment to the Charter and the development of women and girls’ golf.

“We are already seeing the benefits of this in golf participation numbers around the world, a trend that The R&A and all signatories have a responsibility towards continuing.”

Launched six years ago, the Women in Golf Charter outlines that signatories will pledge to:

• Develop and implement an internal strategy for enhancing gender balance at every level.
• Establish senior management responsibility and accountability for gender balance and inclusion.
• Strongly advocate for more women and girls playing and working in golf.
• Work with key stakeholders to develop and embed a more inclusive culture.
• Promote the Charter and the goal of encouraging more women and girls to play golf and work in golf.

Reflecting positively on the past three years and the new milestone number, acting head of clubs and facilities for Golf Australia, Megan Carr, noted the real change occurring in the clubs as the major takeaway, while knowing there will be more clubs to join the 100 in the near future.

“We had 50 as a guide when we first adopted the charter, so to see that number double in the past year is extremely positive,” she said. “While this milestone is worthy of recognition and celebration, the visible and tangible change that we have seen in Australian clubs and facilities off the back of signing this charter is the real hero.”

While Pacific is the 100th traditional golf club to become a signatory, across the entire clubs and facilities network, which includes simulator centres, management companies and golf districts, Australia has a total of 105 signatories across all areas of golf, with the range of commitments particularly encouraging for Australian golf.

Signatories extend from the city centres to remote regional clubs, and include a variety from well-established golf clubs to new simulator centres.

In addition to the many clubs and facilities, Greenspace Management became the first off-course provider globally to become a signatory to the charter late last year in a significant commitment by the group which manages four golf courses and four mini-golf facilities.

“Our country boasts numerous clubs and facilities that are fostering positive cultural change in the sport,” Carr said.

“This has led to increased participation and access for women and girls, aligning with our goal of future-proofing golf for all.”

R&A CHARTER SIGNATORIES

NATIONAL: Greenspace Management

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: Fairbairn Golf Club
Murrumbidgee Country Club
Royal Canberra Golf Club

NEW SOUTH WALES: Bathurst Golf Club
Bayview Golf Club
Dunheved Golf Club
Eastlake Golf Club
Newcastle Golf Club
Rich River Golf Club
Roseville Golf Club
Springwood Country Club
Wakehurst Golf Club

NORTHERN TERRITORY: Gove Country Golf Club

QUEENSLAND: Babinda Golf Club
Brisbane Golf Club
Half Moon Bay Golf Club
Hervey Bay Golf Club
Keperra Country Golf Club
Maroochy River Golf Club
McLeod Country Golf Club
Nudgee Golf Club
Pacific Golf Club
Redland Bay Golf Club
Royal Queensland Golf Club
Southport Golf Club
Tamborine Mountain Golf Club
Townsville Golf Club

SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Blackwood Golf Club
Copperclub at The Dunes Port Hughes Golf Club
Glenelg Golf Club
Kooyonga Golf Club
North Adelaide Golf Course & North Adelaide Golf Club
Mount Osmond Golf Club
South Lakes Golf Club
The Grange Golf Club

TASMANIA: Bridport Golf Club
Claremont Golf Club
Devonport Country Club
Freycinet Golf Club
Huon Valley Golf Club
Kingston Beach Golf Club
Launceston Golf Club
Llanherene Golf Club
Longford Golf Club
Mowbray Golf Club
New Town Bay Golf Club
North West Beach Golf Club
Pittwater Golf Club
Richmond Golf Club
Riverside Golf Club
Royal Hobart Golf Club
Swansea Golf Club
Tasmania Golf Club
Ulverstone Golf Club

VICTORIA: Albert Park Women’s Golf Club
Barwon Valley Golf Club
Benalla Golf Club
Big Swing Golf Kew
Buninyong Golf Club
Commonwealth Golf Club
Cobram-Barooga Golf Club
Curlewis Golf Club
Devilbend Golf Club
East Geelong Golf Club
Eastern Golf Club
Eastwood Golf Club
Flinders Golf Club
Green Acres Golf Club
Golf West Gippsland
Hamilton Golf Club
Hidden Valley Golf Club
Horsham Golf Club
Huntingdale Golf Club
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Leongatha Golf Club
Medway Golf Club
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Merbein Golf Club
Metropolitan Golf Club
Neangar Park Golf Club
Northern Golf Club
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Romsey Golf Club
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Shepparton Golf Club
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Tocumwal Golf & Bowls Club
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Western District Golf Association
Woodlands Golf Club
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Busselton Golf Club
Exmouth Golf Club
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The LPGA’s first two majors of the year have seen history unfurl. Nelly Korda conquered the Chevron Championship for her fifth consecutive victory of the season, becoming only the third player in LPGA history to win five straight tournaments. Yuka Saso’s win at Lancaster Country Club made the 22-year-old the youngest player to win two US Women’s Opens.

What history could we see this week at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at a course that has already delivered an iconic LPGA moment? When Sahalee Country Club outside Seattle hosted the 2016 Women’s PGA, the final day turned into a teen battle between dominant world No.1 Lydia Ko, then 19 and gunning for her third straight major title versus an 18-year-old Brooke Henderson, who won her maiden LPGA event a year prior in Portland.

The Canadian hit one of the best shots of her career on the first playoff hole to within three feet for a birdie, upsetting Ko for the first major win of her career. The two have remained dominating figures on the LPGA since, though, oddly, they have only combined for one major title – Henderson’s 2022 Evian Championship – in the past eight years.

The finalisation of the Olympic field adds another layer of pressure to the week. When the Rolex Rankings come out next Monday, the 60 players representing their countries in Paris will be named.

In preparation for the Women’s PGA, we ranked the top 25 players most likely to be victorious at the end of the week at Sahalee.

25. Hinako Shibuno

Rolex Rankings: 62 Women’s PGA starts: 4 Best finish: T-40, 2021

Shibuno’s out-of-nowhere US Women’s Open performance – where she finished runner-up after missing six cuts over her first nine starts in 2024, with no result better than T-50 – brought her season back to life. The 2019 AIG Women’s Open winner followed up with a T-21 in the ShopRite and T-41 last week in the Meijer.

24. Jin Hee Im

Rolex Rankings: 35 Women’s PGA starts: 0 Best finish: N/A

The South Korean rookie has impressed in her first two major championship appearances, earning an eighth-place finish in the Chevron and a T-12 in the US Women’s Open.

23. Lexi Thompson

Rolex Rankings: 39 Women’s PGA starts: 13 Best finish: T-2, 2022

Maybe announcing her retirement from full-time play released some pressure. There were no signs of the scar tissue in Thompson getting into a three-woman playoff last week in the Meijer, ultimately won by Lilia Vu. The 29-year-old made several key putts and nearly chipped in for the win on the 72nd hole. The runner-up was Thompson’s second top-five finish of 2024, alongside a T-4 at the Ford Championship.

22. Grace Kim

Rolex Rankings: 69 Women’s PGA starts: 1 Best finish: 14th, 2023

The 2023 Lotte Championship winner has built two impressive leads yet, has not won a tournament this year. The Sydneysider led by four at the JM Eagle LA Championship through 36 holes, then struggled to a 77-76 finish over the weekend. Kim had a five-stroke advantage going into the final round at the Meijer, and while the 23-year-old lost to Lilia Vu in a three-way, three-hole playoff, she notched her best finish of the season.

21. NaRin An

Rolex Rankings: 71 Women’s PGA starts: 2 Best finish: T-30, 2023

An is coming off a pair of top-six finishes at the ShopRite (T-6) and Meijer (T-5), where the South Korean missed out on the playoff by two shots.

20. Lydia Ko

Rolex Rankings: 15 Women’s PGA starts: 9 Best finish: Playoff Loss, 2016

Ko has slowed down since a solid start to the season. She posted top-20s in six of her first seven starts, including a victory at the Tournament of Champions and a playoff loss to Nelly Korda at the Drive On Championship in January. She’s made only one cut in her past three events, including carding an 80 at the US Women’s Open.

19. Gabi Ruffels

Rolex Rankings: 41 Women’s PGA starts: 2 Best finish: T-24, 2023

The Aussie is having a stellar rookie season, with three top-three finishes, two of which came in her past four starts. The demerits come in Ruffels’ major performances – T-40 at the Chevron and a T-51 at the US Women’s Open.

18. Linn Grant

Rolex Rankings: 27 Women’s PGA starts: 1 Best finish: T-20, 2023

Grant’s last start was an incredible 11-stroke come-from-behind victory at the male-female Scandinavian Mixed, the largest deficit overcome to win in DP World Tour history. The 2023 Dana Open winner has one top-10 on the LPGA this season, a T-7 at the Founders Cup in early May.

17. Andrea Lee

Rolex Rankings: 33 Women’s PGA starts: 4 Best finish: MC

Coming off a career-best major finish of T-3 at the US Women’s Open, can Lee qualify for another American team at the siren again? She earned her way onto last year’s US Solheim team with the exact T-13 finish she needed at the final qualifying tournament to get onto the roster. With the Olympic field finalised after this week, the 2022 Portland Classic winner may need to conjure up another victory to get to Paris.

16. Megan Khang

Rolex Rankings: 16 Women’s PGA starts: 8 Best finish: T-3, 2023

A 60 from Linnea Strom at the ShopRite stopped Khang from a chance at earning her second career LPGA title. Instead, the American’s runner-up finish fell short of moving her into the top 15 of the world ranking, a cut-off she has to make to be eligible for the Olympics. Khang didn’t help her cause with no top-10s in eight straight starts before the ShopRite.

15. Maja Stark

Rolex Rankings: 17 Women’s PGA starts: 1 Best finish: MC, 2023

Stark, who had three top-three finishes this season, has yet to see a weekend after a pair of runner-up finishes at the Chevron and JM Eagle LA Championship. The 2022 ISPS Handa World Invitational winner missed the cut at the Founders and the US Women’s Open.

14. Sei Young Kim

Rolex Rankings: 37 Women’s PGA starts: 9 Best finish: Win, 2020

The 31-year-old withdrew from the US Women’s Open during the second round with a back injury. She’s having an otherwise solid season, including a pair of top-10s. The 2020 Women’s PGA champion has consistently performed in this major, with her missed cut last year the first time Kim finished outside the top 25.

13. Miyu Yamashita

Rolex Rankings: 22 Women’s PGA starts: 0 Best finish: N/A

Since the beginning of April, the top JLPGA player has not finished outside the top seven on the Japanese circuit. The talent has translated on the LPGA’s major stage with a T-17 in the Chevron and T-12 in the US Women’s Open. Another strong result could allow Yamashita to chase down Ayaka Furue (20th) and Nasa Hataoka (21st) for the second Japanese Olympic spot.

12. Ally Ewing

Rolex Rankings: 19 Women’s PGA starts: 7 Best finish: T-13, 2020

Ewing arrives at Sahalee in arguably the best form of her career ahead of any major. Her T-3 at the US Women’s Open was the best major finish of her career, and the nine-year LPGA veteran followed up with a fourth-place performance at the Meijer LPGA Classic. The 31-year-old is riding a career-best streak of six straight top-30s.

11. Ayaka Furue

Rolex Rankings: 20 Women’s PGA starts: 2 Best finish: T-8, 2023

Furue has to ask herself: if you are in the top 10 nearly every week, you must win eventually, right? The Japanese pro has notched eight top-10s this season, including joining Khang at T-2 at the ShopRite. The 2022 Women’s Scottish Open winner is searching for her second career title.

10. Rose Zhang

Rolex Rankings: 9 Women’s PGA starts: 1 Best finish: T-8, 2023

Zhang didn’t play in the LPGA’s past two events after she withdrew from her title defence at the Mizuho Americas Open with illness and missed the cut at the US Women’s Open. The two-time LPGA winner has had two weeks to regain the form that has earned Zhang three top-10s this season, including her victory at the Cognizant Founders Cup.

9. Jin Young Ko

Rolex Rankings: 7 Women’s PGA starts: 5 Best finish: T-11, 2018

The 15-time LPGA winner has a top-three finish in every major but the Women’s PGA, where she is still searching for her first top-10. Ko is trending downward in part due to hitting only 68 percent of greens in regulation, an almost 7 percent drop from her career average (75.6 percent).

8. Minjee Lee

Rolex Rankings: 10 Women’s PGA starts: 9 Best finish: T-2, 2022

Has Lee moved past her Sunday struggles in the US Women’s Open, where she shared the 54-hole lead, only to shoot 78? She missed the cut badly at last week’s Meijer event. The two-time major champion played well at Salahee in 2016, earning the second-best finish of her Women’s PGA career with a T-12.

7. Ruoning Yin

Rolex Rankings: 3 Women’s PGA starts: 2 Best finish: Win, 2023

Yin has played some of her best golf of the season in the run-up to her title defence this week, with a T-4 in the Founders Cup and T-12 in the US Women’s Open. The 21-year-old would be the first to win back-to-back Women’s PGA Championships since Inbee Park won three in a row from 2013 to 2015.

6. Brooke Henderson

Rolex Rankings: 13 Women’s PGA starts: 9 Best finish: Win, 2016

Henderson returns to the home of her maiden major championship in an event where the Canadian has been consistent during her 11-year career. Since 2015, she hasn’t finished outside the top 30, including five top-six finishes. Henderson has been in contention multiple times this season but remains winless, having notched five top-10s, though the last came in April’s T-3 in the Chevron.

5. Atthaya Thitikul

Rolex Rankings: 11 Women’s PGA starts: 2 Best finish: Fourth, 2022

Even a season marred by injury cannot stop Thitikul from posting top-10 finishes at an all-time rate. The two-time winner didn’t make her first appearance until the Chevron due to a wrist injury and has earned top-10s in her past four starts. In her career thus far, Thitikul has a top-10 rate of 62.3 percent, and only Annika Sorenstam (67.4) and Lorena Ochoa (62.3) accomplished above 60 percent in their careers. At only 21, Thitikul also consistently earns top-10s in majors, posting them at a 50-percent clip, including a T-6 at this year’s US Women’s Open.

4. Hannah Green

Rolex Rankings: 5 Women’s PGA starts: 6 Best finish: Win, 2019

Five years ago, Green got up and down from the greenside bunker at Hazeltine for her first career LPGA victory and major title. Now she is in great form to snare her second major. Green joins Nelly Korda as the only multiple winner on tour in 2024, with victories in the HSBC Women’s World Championship and JM Eagle LA Championship. She also notched a runner-up at the Mizuho Americas Open. The Women’s PGA has been her best major, as it is the only one where the West Australian has multiple top-5 finishes.

3. Lilia Vu

Rolex Rankings: 2 Women’s PGA starts: 2 Best finish: T-10, 2022

Despite a seven-event layoff heading into last week’s Meijer, Vu birdied all three holes in a playoff for her fifth career title. Last year, she won the Chevron and AIG Women’s Open, missed the cut at the Women’s PGA and US Women’s Open, and finished T-42 at the Evian.

2. Yuka Saso

Rolex Rankings: 6 Women’s PGA starts: 3 Best finish: Runner-up, 2023

Saso might be the best major performer on tour right now. She’s finished in the top three in three of her past six appearances, including a win in this year’s US Women’s Open, second at Baltusrol and a T-3 in last year’s Evian Championship.

1. Nelly Korda

Rolex Rankings: 1 Women’s PGA starts: 7 Best finish: Win, 2021

Korda’s back-to-back missed cuts in her past two starts aren’t enough to knock the six-time winner in 2024 from her deserved perch at the top of these rankings. A victory this week would be her second in the Women’s PGA after her 2021 win at Atlanta Athletic Club.

The post Ranking the top 25 players in KPMG Women’s PGA Championship appeared first on Australian Golf Digest.

[PHOTO: NurPhoto]

Lilia Vu returned to the Meijer LPGA Classic in her first start since March, and it felt like the 2023 Player of the Year never left. Vu delivered a closing seven-under 65 on the final day at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Michigan, playing her way into a three-way playoff between herself, Grace Kim and Lexi Thompson. Here’s how the No.2 player in the Rolex Rankings came from eight shots behind to win after three extra holes for her fifth career title.

What it means

Vu, winner of two majors last year, has seen this season so far defined chiefly by her absence. She withdrew from two events in South-East Asia in February, played the first two US contests in March, and then missed the tour’s last seven tournaments due to a back injury. That included not defending her Chevron Championship title in April. Vu’s low point came a couple of months ago when she cried on the range in frustration because her body was not letting her compete.

“I think the breaking point, the tipping point was [missing] Chevron,” Vu said. “Not being able to compete there really killed me. I feel like I thought I was taking the steps in the right direction, but I’m glad that I was able to take a couple of months off and re-evaluate my body, let it recover, do what I needed to do to get back out here again.”

In slowly building her body back up, the Californian had not played 18 holes since the Ford Championship in late March. The two-time major champion now re-asserts herself with the victory before the LPGA’s next pair of majors. The 26-year-old notched the fourth come-from-behind win of her career and overcame the largest deficit to win on tour this season, besting Linnea Strom’s 60 to come from seven back at the ShopRite LPGA Classic last week.

The $US450,000 first-place cheque puts her career earnings ($US4,983,897) just shy of the $5 million club.

How it happened

Kim was five shots ahead of the field at the start of the final day, but her spot in first place dissolved in only five holes, including a bogey-bogey opening. And while the 23-year-old Sydneysider stabilised with pars, Ally Ewing birdied the third through fifth holes to catch Kim at 15-under.

Both Ewing and Kim birdied the sixth to sit tied for first. But the co-leaders stalled, remaining at 16-under over the next nine holes. Vu and Thompson carded three birdies apiece on the first six holes of the back nine to get to 15-under.

Vu then birdied the 424-metre par-5 18th to finish a seven-under 65, the day’s best round, and take the clubhouse lead at 16-under. She walked off the course in a four-way tie for the lead with An, Ewing, and Kim.

The four-way tie for the lead dropped to two players after the 16th, as both Ewing and Narin An bogeyed on the slippery green to fall a stroke behind. Ewing bogeyed the 17th to fall two back before a window-dressing birdie on the 18th put her in fourth.

Kim, at 16-under and in the final group alongside Thompson, teed off with a 3-wood on the 18th. She still ended up in the fairway bunker, had to punch out and eventually made par.

Par for @gracekimeyy on 18 means we've got a playoff coming up!!!

Grace, @Lexi and @TheLiliaVu will be teeing it up in a sudden-death playoff shortly pic.twitter.com/q1xJq6uBJm

— LPGA (@LPGA) June 16, 2024

In Thompson’s first start since the US Women’s Open, where she announced her retirement from full-time play at the end of the season, the 11-time winner needed a birdie to make the playoff. The 29-year-old put herself just behind the green in two, and her downhill chip stopped a revolution short of dropping in for an eagle and Thompson’s first LPGA win in 1,834 days, since the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic.

LEXI what?!

She's got less than inch for a tap-in to tie the lead after a near eagle chip-in on 18! pic.twitter.com/tyTVjBPjCp

— LPGA (@LPGA) June 16, 2024

Among the trio, Thompson had the least success in playoffs, going 0-4 in her career. Kim won the 2023 Lotte Championship in a three-way playoff, while Vu won the ’23 Chevron Championship in a playoff against Angel Yin and lost in extras to Yin at the Buick LPGA Shanghai.

This playoff went twice to the 18th, with each player making birdie, before moving on to the 492-metre fourth. Kim’s 30-foot birdie putt came up inches short, and Thompson’s 15-footer darted just past the left side of the cup. And it was Vu, the only player to go for the green in two, who got up and down from a bunker and made a six-footer for birdie to win.

Her first start back after an injury and she's walking off the course as a champion!@TheLiliaVu is golden pic.twitter.com/mkm7uBDjq0

— LPGA (@LPGA) June 16, 2024

Quotable

“I think this is the most meaningful win [of my career] because there was a time two months ago where I was just crying on the range, not being sure if I would ever play a tournament again without pain,” Vu said. “To be here today is just incredible.”

Kim, meanwhile was naturally disappointed but remained upbeat.

“Going the three playoff holes with the Player of the Year last year, two major champions and obviously Lexi just being an icon for women’s golf says a lot about my game, I guess,” said Kim, who now moves on to the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club.

“Obviously didn’t get it done. Yeah, it sucks, but I think I can see myself I guess in the future as well. Just how much I’ve grown. It’s only my second year out, and to be in this position it’s, as you can tell, overwhelming. All the credit goes to my team to push me this far.

“To get to these opportunities is, you know, unbelievable. To be able to play against these players in certain conditions and playoff for three holes, I think we all know we played some good damn golf.”

Raw and powerful perspective.

We are so proud of you @gracekimeyy. pic.twitter.com/Bt6nmWaZdE

— Golf Australia (@GolfAust) June 17, 2024

Leaderboard

Winner: Lilia Vu (-16)

T-2: Lexi Thompson (-16)

T-2: Grace Kim (-16)

4th: Ally Ewing (-15)

T-5: Narin An (-14)

T-5: Allisen Corpuz (-14)

The post Lilia Vu comes back from injury to beat Lexi Thompson and Australia’s Grace Kim in LPGA playoff appeared first on Australian Golf Digest.

A smashed avo breakfast with her coach, Khan Pullen, has helped Grace Kim to a commanding lead after three rounds of the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan.

Chasing her second win in the United States, the gun from Sydney’s Avondale Golf Club put on a putting masterclass with a third-round, six-under-par 66 overnight around the 5,994-metre Blythefield Country Club.

Her three-round total of 17-under par puts her ahead by five shots from four players, including Anna Nordqvist, Lexi Thompson, Allisen Corpuz, Korean Na Rin An and overnight co-leader Ally Ewing.

Kim said she learned from her loss to Hannah Green at the JM Eagle LA Open two months ago, where she unravelled after taking a four-shot lead into the weekend.

“I don’t think I handled it very well,” Kim admitted of her LA Open blowout. “I was very nervous.”

“I got to the golf course very early for my two o’clock tee-time. I just didn’t know what to do.”

“This morning, I learned from that experience, I went to a café with my coach, had some avocado on toast. I just tried to do everything to keep my mind off the golf course. I just tried to ease myself into the warm ups, and have a free mind out there today.”

And free mind it was – also thanks to watching “Inside Out 2”, a movie that centres on people’s different emotions.

Kim moved early, with birdies on the fifth, sixth and seventh holes, to get to 14-under.

“When I made birdie on the fifth, that got the momentum going,” she said.

“I ‘boxed’ the next one (the sixth), which was very nice. It’s always nice to make a long one, then on the seventh, I just made sure I had a good club, made sure I worked with the wind and not against it, and yeah, I stumped it and made birdie.”

Kim’s only bogey of the day came at the par-5 10th, but that was little more than a bump on the freeway, and with a red-hot putter firing, she charged home with four more birdies on the 13th, 14th, 16th holes plus the last to establish the biggest third-round lead this year on the LPGA.

“I forgot that 13 was that back pin. I hit 3-wood this year, and I also had it last year and birdied both times. I took my chances on 14, and then 16 was a very good birdie putt. That last chip shot on 18, I was going to bump and run it, but you’ve still got to hole it at times, so I used the lobby instead.”

Kim said that despite having a five-shot lead heading into tomorrow’s final round, she would keep the game plan that had proven so effective today.

“I like to play aggressively appropriately, taking my chances, speaking to my caddie thoroughly and clearly enough to have a clearer mind into every shot, so yeah, just do me. The last time I have I had a four-shot lead I didn’t do very well, so I’ve given myself another chance to actually get it done. I know I’m gonna try my best for tomorrow.

“I know these greens are a lot suited to my game. And yeah, I learned a lot from that experience.”

The post Smashed avo and movie help Grace Kim to big Meijer LPGA Classic lead appeared first on Australian Golf Digest.

Nearly a week after six-time LPGA winner Nasa Hataoka was disqualified from the ShopRite LPGA Classic after she signed an incorrect scorecard because she was deemed to have taken too long to search for her ball, the Japanese star posted on social media a long and critical response.

Hataoka was DQ’d for taking more than three minutes to search for her ball after her second shot on the par-5 ninth at Seaview Bay Course last Friday. After finding the ball and consulting with a rules official, Hataoka took an unplayable lie and ended up saving an apparent par for a then-six-under 65 that placed her fourth. The DQ was announced by the LPGA the next day.

LPGA star disqualified after taking too much time to find her ball

In the 622-word Instagram post on Friday, Hataoka acknowledged that she would not contest the decision and apologised to fans who wanted to watch her play. However, the 25-year-old wanted to share three recommendations to ensure other players won’t get DQ’d like she did.

The first was addressing ambiguity in the rules. Hataoka explained there is no clear definition under the Rule 18.2a of who determines when the three-minute clock starts for the search. Given that a violation can result in disqualification, Hataoka said she hopes there can be more clarity in these rules.

Second was the timing of violation notices and penalties. Hataoka noted that it was not a tournament official or player who reported the violation. Since the report came after she signed her scorecard, when she could no longer rectify the mistake, it was “extremely frustrating and disappointing”.

Third was whether or not verification through footage should be allowed. Hataoka argued that not every player is filmed through every hole. Therefore, rules officials should not be able to use footage to enforce violations.

“If footage verification is to be used to verify a violation, all the tournament play should be filmed so that such verification method should be consistently available, and if that is not feasible, footage verification should not be used and the application of the Rules should be determined by the players, fellow competitors, and the rules officials,” Hataoka argued.

Hataoka ended her post by acknowledging the dozen or so people who helped her find her ball through the fescue. “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who tirelessly helped search for my ball,” she wrote.

Hataoka’s disqualification came at a crucial time in the year as she tries to represent her country for a second time at the Olympics. The ShopRite was one of three events remaining before the field becomes finalized on June 24 after next week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Instead of a chance for Hataoka to move up the Rolex Women’s World Rankings after a strong first round, she fell to 20th and out of Olympic position. Ayaka Furue (19th) passed Hataoka for the second Japanese spot. With her recent US Women’s Open victory, Yuka Saso (eighth) effectively claimed the first Japanese slot.

Right behind Hataoka in 21st is countrywoman Miyu Yamashita, a dominant JLPGA player who has a pair of top-20s at the LPGA’s two majors this season. Hataoka is not playing in this week’s Meijer LPGA Classic, but has one last chance to move up in the Women’s PGA at Sahalee.

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