Full Breakdown
Haeran Ryu Wins KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Halting Nelly Korda’s Triple-Major Bid
6/29/2026, 6:43:22 AM
Ryu Wins at Hazeltine
Haeran Ryu shot a final-round 70 to finish at 13-under 275 and win the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota on June 28, 2026. World No. 1 Nelly Korda posted a 1-over 73, tied for eighth at 6-under, seven strokes behind the champion.
Season Context and Delay
Korda entered the week after winning the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open, aiming to become the first player since 2013 to capture the first three majors of the season. Ryu led by one after a 68 on Saturday. A 3½-hour rain delay pushed the final-round start.
Key Players
- Haeran Ryu – 25-year-old South Korean, world rank 12, first major title.
- Nelly Korda – 27-year-old American, world No. 1, needs two Hall-of-Fame points.
- Ina Yoon – South Korean, solo second place.
- Brooke Henderson – Canadian, tied for third.
Scores and Performance Metrics
Ryu’s 70 (-4) gave her a 13-under total; she held a three-shot lead after the turn and finished with pars on the final six holes. Korda made five three-putts, ranked 42nd in strokes-gained putting, and double-bogeyed the 16th twice, a first since 2013.
Players’ Statements
Korda said she focused on each shot and was disappointed with her own play, not the broader third-major narrative, and planned to rest, reset, and travel to Europe for the Evian Championship. Ryu described windy, difficult conditions, noted only one bogey, and sought greater confidence.
Broadcast and Performance Critique
Analysts noted the LPGA major’s 428,000 average NBC viewership versus 3.5 million for the PGA Tour’s Travelers, and the rain delay that moved coverage to Golf Channel and Peacock. Korda’s putting was also criticized.
Course Conditions and Celebration
The crowd sprayed champagne on Ryu, a South Korean tradition. Hazeltine’s 16th-hole water hazard caused Korda’s penalty after her ball entered the lake.
Implications
Ryu’s win shifts early-season LPGA momentum and denies Korda Hall-of-Fame points and a career grand slam at age 27; broadcast issues raise visibility concerns.
Upcoming Events
Korda will compete in the Evian Championship in France, then the AIG Women’s British Open, where a win would complete a grand slam; Ryu’s schedule continues on the LPGA.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was just trying to take it a shot at a time, really,” — Nelly Korda, World No. 1
- “You guys made that such a big thing. I didn't think about that, no,” — Nelly Korda, World No. 1
- “It was more windy and a lot of tough shots and tough putts, but I just made one bogey today, so it was good for me for tomorrow, and tomorrow I just want to have more confidence and be calmer,” — Haeran Ryu, KPMG Women’s PGA Champion
