BETHESDA, Md. — In Gee Chun of South Korea rallied after losing the rest of her once-sizeable lead, overcoming a bogey-filled front nine to win the Women’s P.G.A. On Sunday, Lexi Thompson’s putter was a problem.
Chun shot a three over-par 75 for the second straight day at Congressional Country Club, Washington, D.C., but that was sufficient to win her third career major title, by one stroke, over Thompson, an American, or Minjee Lee, of Australia. Chun, after leading by six strokes at the tournament’s midway point, lost a three-shot advantage in the first three holes of the final round. Thompson led her by two strokes after the front nine, but Thompson’s putting problems were just beginning.
Thompson, 27, missed a par putt on No. 14 but a birdie at the 15th hole reestablished her lead to two strokes. After she birdied the par-5 16th, Chun birdied, the pair were tied at two holes.
Thompson three-putted on No. 17, and after an impressive approach from the rough on the 18th hole, her birdie putt wasn’t hit firmly enough.
Chun’s approach on the par-4 18th bounced past the hole and just off the back of the green, but she putted to within about 5 feet and sank her par attempt for the win.
After finishing her round in wet conditions on Thursday, Chun, 27, was seven strokes ahead. Her lead was down to five at the end of that day — still equaling the largest 18-hole advantage in the history of women’s major tournaments.
She was six strokes ahead at half-way and had a three shot advantage going into Sunday. She finished the tournament with a 283 score, five under par.
Chun won her first major at the U.S. Women’s Open in 2015 and added the Evian Championship in France the following year.
Thompson hasn’t won an L.P.G.A. Since 2019, Thompson has not won an L.P.G.A. Tour event. Her only major victory was as a teenager at Mission Hills, California desert in 2014. She has certainly had chances: She lost a five-stroke lead during the final round of last year’s U.S. Women’s Open at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.
After the first round, Thompson was 10 strokes behind. She then began steadily chasing Chun down. Thompson made birdies at Nos. On Sunday, Thompson made birdies on Nos. 1 and 3. Chun bogeyed Nos. 2 and 4 to be taken out of the lead.
Thompson missed short birdie putts on the eighth and ninth holes — foreshadowing her problems later in the round — but Chun’s 40 on the front nine left her two back at the turn. Sei Young Kim, who was at six under, bogeyed holes eight through 10, 11 and 12, and was out of contention. She tied for fifth in a five-way tie.
Thompson made Thompson’s second birdie after Chun made her par-5 11th-hole birdie to stay two shots ahead of Chun, who was still at seven under. Chun was also bogeyed 12 by Thompson.
The 16th hole was crucial for Chun, who had to play an unplayable lay and made double bogey on Saturday. Thompson was only two shots short of the green, but she took four to make bogey. Chun made her birdie putt after a long wait.
Source: NY Times