Marquee Groups Will Look to Set the Tone Early at Baltusrol

With the second major of the LPGA Tour season just about underway, there are plenty of notable names teeing it up this year at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship – with many of them in fine form.

The games’ best are gunning for a major title, and Baltusrol will prove to be a hearty test as a first-time host for the KPMG Women’s PGA. It last hosted the PGA Championship in 2016.

But who is ready to set the tone early? Here are the Featured Groups for the first two rounds of the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

(ALL TIMES EASTERN)

THURSDAY - 8:39 AM / FRIDAY - 2:01 PM
Lexi THOMPSON - Florida
Rose ZHANG - California
Minjee LEE – AUSTRALIA

A pair of major champions will be grouped by the game’s brightest new star, as Rose Zhang makes her major-championship debut as a pro. Lexi Thompson is looking for her first LPGA Tour triumph since 2019 and returns to the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship after a tie for second last year. Minjee Lee, meanwhile, won twice last year including the U.S. Women’s Open. Zhang won her first event as a professional, the Mizuho Americas Open. She played eight majors prior to turning pro but never teed it up at the KPMG Women’s PGA.

THURSDAY - 8:17 AM / FRIDAY - 1:39 PM
In Gee CHUN - REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Danielle KANG - Nevada
Hannah GREEN – AUSTRALIA

How about this trio of past KPMG Women’s PGA Championship winners? In Gee Chun is looking to successfully defend her title from 2022, while Danielle Kang (2017) and Hannah Green (2019) are looking for a little more magic at this championship.

THURSDAY - 1:39 PM / FRIDAY - 8:17 AM

Brooke M. HENDERSON - CANADA
Lilia VU - California
Ashleigh BUHAI - SOUTH AFRICA

Brooke Henderson won the opening event of the LPGA Tour season and – despite the fact the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is always played at a new course each year – tends to always find herself in the mix at this championship including winning in 2016. She’s grouped with Lilia Vu – a two-time winner already this season including at The Chevron Championship – and Ashleigh Buhai, a major winner in her own right and the winner of the ShopRite Classic just two weeks ago.

THURSDAY - 1:39 PM / FRIDAY - 8:28 AM
Sei Young KIM - REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Stacy LEWIS - Texas
Nasa HATAOKA – JAPAN

This global trio has plenty of firepower. Sei Young Kim won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2020, while Nasa Hataoka comes into this year’s championship off a tie for fifth last season. Stacy Lewis, meanwhile, continues to balance her responsibilities as Solheim Cup captain with a solid playing schedule on the LPGA Tour.

THURSDAY - 1:39 PM / FRIDAY - 8:39 AM
Nelly KORDA - Florida
Lydia KO - NEW ZEALAND
Jin Young KO - REPUBLIC OF KOREA

If you’re looking for a bit of a best-on-best scenario to start the week at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, you’ve found it with this group. Jin Young Ko – already a winner twice on the LPGA Tour this season – is ranked No.1 in the world and she’s grouped with No.2 Nelly Korda and No.3 Lydia Ko. Ko is coming off a Player of the Year campaign in 2022, while Korda is returning to action after sitting on the sidelines for about a month due to a back injury. Prior to that she had just single result out of the top six in seven starts on the LPGA Tour this season.