Minjee Lee, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, golf, Jeeno Thitikul, Nelly Korda”>
FRISCO, Texas — Two-time major champion Minjee Lee delivered a stunning, bogey-free round at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on Saturday.
Lee Takes Command in Windy Conditions
Lee leads by four strokes after a stellar 3-under 69.
- Minjee Lee shot the only bogey-free round of the tournament.
- Jeeno Thitikul struggled, carding a 76 after leading the first two days.
- Winds gusted over 30 mph, making conditions difficult for all players.
After a challenging day at the course, who is leading the KPMG women’s PGA championship? Minjee Lee seized the lead with a 3-under 69, putting her at 6-under 210.
Thitikul’s Struggles Open the Door
Thitikul,who held the lead after the first two days,faltered with a 4-over 76. Her struggles began on the back nine, with back-to-back bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes.
Lee, an Australian player residing in Irving, Texas, capitalized on Thitikul’s misfortunes. A steady performance, highlighted by a 2-foot par on the 12th, propelled her into the lead.
Did you know? – Minjee Lee has two major championship wins. She won the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2021 Evian Championship. Both are considered among the most prestigious events in women’s golf.
Wind a Major Factor
The conditions at Fields Ranch East in PGA Frisco were far different from the tree-lined Sahalee outside Seattle, the venue for last year’s Women’s PGA. The open layout exposed players to relentless Texas winds, with gusts exceeding 30 mph.
The temperature hovered in the mid-90s, adding to the physical demands on the golfers.
Korda Calls Conditions “Brutal”
world No. 1 Nelly Korda described the conditions as “just brutal.” After starting with consecutive bogeys, she managed a round of 72, punctuated by two late birdies. Korda is currently tied for sixth at 2-over 218.
Lee and Thitikul were the only golfers to remain under par. Lexi Thompson (75), Hye jin Choi (72) and Miyu Yamashita (73) were tied for third at 1 over.
Reader question: – How much does weather impact a professional golfer’s performance? Share your thoughts on how wind, heat, and course conditions affect the game.
Eighth Hole a Challenge
Thitikul recorded the lone birdie on the 172-yard, par-3 eighth hole.Only 29% of tee shots landed on the green throughout the week. That 13-foot putt moved her to 5 under, establishing a two-stroke lead over Lee at the time.
After missing a 4-foot par putt on the 11th, her first miss inside of five feet all week, Thitikul’s drive on the 12th landed in a penalty area, leading to another bogey and handing the lead to Lee.
Lee’s Consistent Play
Lee, a major champion with victories at the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2021 Evian Championship, maintained composure throughout her round on Saturday. She strung together eight consecutive pars before sinking a 4-foot birdie on the ninth.
Further birdies came on the 14th and 15th holes, solidifying her position at the top of the leaderboard.
Thitikul recorded her third bogey in a four-hole stretch with a three-putt from 50 feet on the 14th.
Thompson’s Difficult Start
Thompson, playing a limited schedule this season, endured a rocky start with a triple bogey on the first hole. After a solid drive, she topped her second shot and then shanked her third, resulting in a penalty. Despite the setback, she rallied with two birdies.
Thompson’s sole major victory was the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship. as 2013,she has had 13 top-five finishes in majors and 20 top-10 finishes.
Other Notable rounds
LPGA rookie Rio Takeda opened with a bogey 6. Takeda had a pair of double bogeys, including on the par-4 seventh hole.
Grace Kim posted the day’s best score, a 68 featuring six birdies, lifting her from a tie for 68th to a tie for 10th. Only Lee and Andrea (71) also shot under par. Kim teed off at 6:55 a.m. local time, six hours before Lee and Thitikul.
Brianna Do recorded a hole-in-one on the 150-yard fourth hole, the third in the Women’s PGA in the past four years.
The Impact of Wind on Pro Golfers
The brutal conditions at the KPMG women’s PGA Championship highlighted a critical element of professional golf: the impact of the wind. The strong gusts in Frisco, Texas, significantly influenced players’ strategies and scores.
How does wind affect a golfer’s performance? Wind can dramatically alter the distance a ball travels, affecting club selection and shot accuracy. Furthermore, it impacts the golfer’s mental game.
Let’s explore why wind is such a formidable adversary on the course.
Why Wind Matters
Wind’s impact extends beyond just adding or subtracting distance. It presents several challenges for golfers:
- Club Selection: Players must adjust club selection too account for wind assistance or resistance.
- Trajectory: Wind can lift or knock down a shot, altering its trajectory and landing spot.
- Accuracy: Crosswinds can push the ball offline, making it harder to keep shots on target.
- Mental Game: Constantly adjusting for wind requires intense concentration and can lead to fatigue.
- Green Reading: Even putting becomes more challenging, as putts break more with wind.
These factors combine to make even the best players feel like beginners.
Benefits & Practical Tips
Navigating windy conditions effectively demands a strategic approach. Here’s how golfers can minimize the negative effects of wind:
- Assess the Wind: observe flags, trees, and water to determine wind direction and strength.
- Club Down: When playing into the wind, select a club with more loft and a lower trajectory.
- Club up: When the wind is at your back,choose a club that will allow you to take fuller swing.
- Control Trajectory: Use a lower ball flight when the wind is strong to prevent the ball from getting pushed around.
- Aim Point: Adjust aim points based on wind direction so you may hit closer to the flag.
- Adapt Putting: Account for wind’s influence when reading greens, especially on longer putts.
By applying these tips, players can mitigate the challenges of wind and maintain their performance and scores.
Case Studies in windy Play
Examining past tournaments underscores the impact of wind. In the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, minjee Lee’s stellar performance, and Jeeno Thitikul’s struggles, offer critical insights.
Lee’s ability to maintain composure and control her shots in the wind put her at the top. Conversely, Thitikul’s difficulties illustrate the devastating effect wind can have.
Another case study involves the 2023 Open championship at Royal Liverpool. The event played under extremely windy conditions. The eventual champion had played with exceptional iron play and course management,consistently adjusting to the variable winds.
Wind: Myths vs. Facts
Common misconceptions surround wind in golf. Let’s dissect a few:
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| Wind only affects distance. | Wind impacts club selection, trajectory, and shot accuracy. |
| Stronger players overcome wind with ease. | Wind challenges all players, requiring strategy and adaptation. |
| Wind’s impact is predictable. | Wind is unpredictable. Knowing the weather and direction is key to success. |
Reader Question
How much does weather impact a professional golfer’s performance? Weather significantly impacts a professional golfer’s performance, dictating course conditions and influencing shot-making strategies.
Share your thoughts on how wind, heat, and course conditions affect the game. Wind, heat, and course conditions, all have dramatic impacts a golfer’s strategy and overall gameplay; they affect the golfer’s planning, performance, and decision making.
FAQs
Here are some of the most common questions surrounding the impact of wind in golf:
Wind is a common factor in professional golf tournaments, impacting play in a majority of events. Factors like the course layout and location can make the wind a determining factor.
Golfers adjust for a crosswind by aiming away from the direction the wind is blowing, accounting for the predicted drift of the ball.
Yes, wind can impact putting, particularly on longer putts, by causing the ball to break more or less.
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