Haeran Ryu Wins the KPMG — And the Women's Game Just Had Its Best Week of the Season This episode is sponsored by Quince. Free shipping and 365-day returns at Quince.com/wingo Before the first shot was hit at Hazeltine National this week, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship made history. The purse was announced at $13 million — the largest in the history of women's golf. The last time this championship was held at Hazeltine in 2019, the purse was under $4 million. KPMG has more than tripled their investment in seven years. That is not a footnote. That is a statement about where women's golf is headed and who is leading the charge in getting it there. Haeran Ryu Wins Haeran Ryu is one of the best ball strikers in women's golf and has been for years. She held the 54-hole lead at the Chevron Championship in both 2024 and 2025 at Carlton Woods and did not close either time. The heartbreak was real and it was public. This week at Hazeltine she closed. Justin calls it inevitable — a player of her caliber, with that kind of ball striking and that track record of contending, was always going to break through eventually. This was the week. The grounds crew at Hazeltine deserve their own mention. On Justin's drive from the hotel to the golf course on Sunday morning he could not see out the windshield through the rain. He was convinced the round would be pushed to Monday. An hour later they were back on the golf course. An unbelievable performance by the crew that made the championship possible. What Happened to Nelly Nelly Korda came to Hazeltine trying to become the fifth woman in LPGA history to win three majors in the same season. She finished tied for eighth. Justin points out immediately — tied for eighth is her worst stroke play finish of 2026. And it is still better than the way Scotty Scheffler has played this year. That is where Nelly Korda is right now. The honest statistical assessment — over the course of the weekend Nelly had approximately 14 opportunities from 80 to 130 yards from the fairway and made two birdies. Her scoring clubs were not converting at the level that has defined her 2026 season. She got within two shots heading into the back nine on Sunday and could not make the birdie she needed on the next par five. Small tweaks. No overhaul needed. The three-peat is on hold — not off the table. Justin's take on where she is most likely to win a third major — the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes rather than the Evian Championship. Evian generates unpredictable outcomes by nature. It is a blast to watch but the best player does not always win. Ask Gino Titicaka last year when Grace Kim came from nowhere to win her first major. Lytham sets up better for a player of Nelly's caliber and course management. The bunkers at Lytham are everywhere and they punish poor decisions — exactly the kind of test that rewards Nelly's all-around game. The Surrounding Stories Brooke Henderson — ten-year anniversary of winning a major championship as an 18-year-old. Not yet 30. Performing at an elite level again. One of the best stories of the week. Davy Weber — about to become a first-time mother. Essentially doubled her entire career earnings with a $750,000 check this week. Now in position to potentially make the Solheim Cup team for Team Europe in her native Netherlands. A week ago that was completely off the radar. Charlie Hull, Hannah Green, and Minjee Lee all missed the cut — surprising given their form and track records at this venue and at this point in the season. Golf is a long season. Bad weeks happen to great players. Four probable Solheim Cup players finished in the top eight — Alice and Lee, Alison Corpus, Austin Kim, and Nelly. The depth of women's golf right now is real and this leaderboard proved it. What Comes Next Two majors remain on the LPGA schedule. The Evian Championship in France is just weeks away. Then the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes. Nelly Korda has two more chances to become the fifth woman in history to win three majors in the same season. The three-peat is on hold. It is not over. The stretch of women's golf from mid-July through the end of August — Evian, Women's Scottish Open, Women's Open — is as compelling a run of championships as any in professional golf right now. The purses are growing. The fields are deep. The finishes are dramatic. And the best player in the world still has unfinished business. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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