Click here for the complete field at the 2017 KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

The Best of the Best

Olympia Fields Country Club hosts one of the strongest fields of 2017 for this week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the second major championship of the year. 19 of the top-20 players in the Rolex Rankings and 100 of the top-100 players on the LPGA Tour money list are teeing it up outside Chicago.

This week, So Yeon Ryu headlines the field as the newly minted world No. 1. She made the leap from No. 3 to No. 1 with her victory on Sunday at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G and with her win, Ryu also became the first multiple winner of 2017 having also won the season’s first major championship, the ANA Inspiration.

Also in the field this week is world No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn, who did not play last week in Arkansas and lost the top spot in the Rolex Rankings after just three weeks. In 2016 at Sahalee Country Club, Jutanugarn made a good run at the trophy by posting a final round 66 to finish solo third.

Finishing just ahead of Jutanugarn last year was world No. 3 Lydia Ko, who came up just short of the title when she lost to Brooke Henderson on the first playoff hole to miss out on her third consecutive major title. She finished tied for fourth at the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. World No. 4 Lexi Thompson and No. 5 In Gee Chun round out the top-5 in the field this week. Thompson opened with over-par rounds last year at Sahalee and finished tied for 22^nd that week. Chun is making her first start since withdrawing from the Meijer LPGA Classic due to illness. The two-time major champion finished tied for 30^th at Sahalee Country Club in 2016.

Major Test

Adding to the strength of the field is the number of major champions competing with 26 major champions competing at Olympia Fields. They own a combined 53 major titles, including several KPMG Women’s PGA Championship victories. Three-time winner Inbee Park, who earned her way into the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame at this event last season, returns again this year. She captured the title three years in a row between 2013 and 2015. Other KPMG Women’s PGA Championship winners in the field this week include Yani Tseng (2013, 2008), Shanshan Feng (2012), Cristie Kerr (2010), Anna Nordqvist (2009), Suzann Pettersen (2007), Karrie Webb (2001) and Laura Davies (1996, 1994).

Welcome Back, Brooke

Defending champion Brooke Henderson made history with her victory at Sahalee Country Club where she became the second youngest major winner in the history of the LPGA Tour when she won at 18-years of age. Henderson made a charge on Sunday to catch 54-hole leader, Lydia Ko. An eagle from off the green at the par five, 11^th hole fueled Henderson’s move up the leaderboard and was further punctuated by birdies at the 13^th and 17^th holes. Tied after 72-holes, Henderson and Ko returned to the 18^th hole where Henderson stuck her approach close for birdie and the win. Henderson followed up her first major victory with a successful title defense in Portland and a fourth career win two-weeks ago at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give.

Special Exemptions

Two members of the Ladies European Tour received special exemptions into the field this week at Olympia Fields. Klara Spilkova of the Czech Republic received an exemption for the second consecutive year to compete at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Spilkova currently leads the LET’s Order of Merit and already has a win under her belt this season with her one-stroke victory over Suzann Pettersen at the Lalla Meryem Cup in April. Georgia Hall also received an exemption into the field this week where she will make her first appearance at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. But this isn’t her foray into a major championship; the LET member also competed at the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open and 2013 ANA Inspiration.

Field Breakdown - KPMG Women's PGA Championship

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