At this week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, England’s Laura Davies made her 32nd start in this event, formerly the LPGA Championship. (Only Marlene Hagge, with 35, has more starts.)
Davies shot 70 on Friday and at 5-over 145 made the cut for the 23rd time, the last being in 2015 at Westchester Country Club in New York in KPMG’s first year as title sponsor.
Davies won the McDonald’s LPGA in 1994 and 1996, when the event was played at DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Del. The year in between victories, Davies was runner-up to Kelly Robbins. That’s 1-2-1 for the 20-time winner and World Golf Hall of Fame member.
Asked about the tournament under the newer watch of KPMG, the PGA of America and LPGA, Davies, who shot 75 on Saturday, said, “Oh, I don't think you can recognize it. It was great fun at DuPont when it was the McDonald's Championship when I won it a couple of times, but it's moved on. It's moved up a notch. The golf courses we're playing now, obviously this week, the ones we've played the last few years since it's become the KPMG, it has moved up a level, and it's so well run, and I don't think anyone could not enjoy playing in this event.”
Davies turned 57 on Monday, and was one of three players 40 or older (Cristie Kerr and Angela Stanford the others) to make the cut and play on the weekend. Two players from this week’s starting field (Yealimi Noh, Julia Engstrom) are 19 years old, or one-third Davies’ age.
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