INBEE PARK (-19) POCKETS SIXTH CAREER MAJOR AT KPMG WOMEN’S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Inbee Park posted a final-round 68 to win the 2015 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, New York. Park, never trailed on Sunday, winning by five strokes over Sei Young Kim, after entering the final round with a two-stroke lead. Park’s victory today was her fifth in 12 major championships played on the LPGA Tour since the beginning of 2013.
THREE-PEAT
Remarkably, Inbee Park won this championship for a third straight year on a third different golf course (Westchester Country Club/West Course, Monroe Country Club, Locust Hill Country Club). Park’s victory this week matches Annika Sörenstam, who won three straight LPGA Championship titles from 2003-05. Sörenstam’s three-peat, however, came on “only” two courses (DuPont Country Club in 2003 and ’04, Bulle Rock Golf Club in 2005).
PARK’S PLACE AGAIN ATOP THE RANKINGS
With her victory today, Inbee Park reclaimed the No. 1 position in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Lydia Ko had held the top spot for the previous 19 weeks.
THREE’S A CROWD
Inbee Park, with her victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship this week, becomes the sixth player to post three career wins in this championship. Mickey Wright won a record four times (1958, 1960, ’61, ’63). Park now joins Nancy Lopez, Se Ri Pak, Annika Sörenstam and Kathy Whitworth as three-time winners.
HANGING WITH THE HALL-OF-FAMERS
By securing her sixth career major title, Inbee Park is now tied for ninth on the LPGA’s major victories list with Pat Bradley, Betsey King, Patty Sheehan and Kathy Whitworth. Twelve of the 13 LPGA Legends to garner at least six major titles are members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The lone exception is the 26 year-old Park.
| MOST MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS - LPGA | ||
| RANK | PLAYERS | MAJORS |
| 1 | Patty Berg | 15 |
| 2 | Mickey Wright | 13 |
| 3 | Louise Suggs | 11 |
| T4 | Annika Sorenstam | 10 |
| T4 | Babe Zaharias | 10 |
| 6 | Betsy Rawls | 8 |
| T7 | Juli Inkster | 7 |
| T7 | Karrie Webb | 7 |
| T9 | Inbee Park | 6 |
| T9 | Pat Bradley | 6 |
| T9 | Betsy King | 6 |
| T9 | Patty Sheehan | 6 |
| T9 | Kathy Whitworth | 6 |
MORE ON THE SIX MAJORS
Only three active players on the PGA or LPGA tours have won more major championships than Inbee Park’s six: Tiger Woods (14), Juli Inkster (7), Karrie Webb (7).
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
Four of Inbee Park’s six career major championships have occurred in the Empire State: 2015 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (Westchester Country Club, Harrison), 2014 LPGA Championship (Monroe Golf Club, Pittsford), 2013 LPGA Championship (Locust Hill Country Club, Pittsford), 2013 U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship (Sebonack Golf Club, Southampton).
THE TREND CONTINUES
With Inbee Park’s victory today at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, a foreign-born player claimed this major championship for the 14th time in 15 years dating to 2001. The lone American to win during this 15-year span was Cristie Kerr (2010 LPGA Championship, Locust Hill Country Club).
THAT’S LOW
By finishing 19-under par, 273 for the tournament, Inbee Park matched this championship’s record in relation to par. Park equaled the former mark which was shared by Yani Tseng (2011) and Cristie Kerr (2010).
GREAT EIGHT
Lexi Thompson posted eight birdies in today’s final round and her 66 matched the low round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She finished third overall at 12-under par.
TOP FIVE AGAIN
Three players have posted top five finishes in each of the LPGA’s first two majors of the 2015 season: Sei Young Kim (second KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, tied-fourth ANA Inspiration), Brittany Lincicome (fourth KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, won ANA Inspiration) and Morgan Pressel (tied-fifth KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, tied-four ANA Inspiration).
TWO DAYS AS A MARKER
For the second straight day, PGA of America Secretary Suzy Whaley of Farmington, Connecticut, served as a playing “marker” in the Championship. Her playing partner, Lee-Ann Pace, turned in a three-under-par 70 – the best round of the week – to finish at 4-over-par 296. Whaley’s caddie today was her oldest daughter, Jenn, 20, the captain of the women’s golf team at Quinnipiac University. On Saturday, Whaley was the marker for Hee Kyung Seo.)
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