Mel Reid captured her first LPGA Tour title Sunday at the Shoprite LPGA Classic presented by Acer, and now she’ll try to carry that momentum into the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Reid fired a 4-under 67 Sunday to win by two shots over Jennifer Kupcho. With the win, she set the 72-hole scoring record at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
While she has six career wins on the Ladies European Tour – and is a three-time member of the European Solheim Cup team – this was her first triumph on the LPGA Tour.
“It changes your life honestly. These are the best players in the world,” said Reid. “Just it get it done is a huge relief and I'm ecstatic and now looking forward to KPMG next week.”
She’ll head to Aronimink Golf Club looking to become the ninth golfer in history to win the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship after lifting the trophy on the LPGA Tour the week prior.
Reid said she’s going to bring a lot of confidence into the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She’ll also head to the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship off a T7 at the last major on the calendar, the ANA Inspiration.
“I love tough golf courses. Obviously, my confidence is very high right now. Feel like I’m swinging it great,” said Reid.
While she joked she felt she could “fit a few beers” into her ShopRite LPGA Classic trophy, she said her celebration wouldn’t be too crazy as she pivots to a major-championship focus.
Prior to this week, Reid’s best LPGA Tour finish was a T3, which happened at last year’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club.
The last time a KPMG Women’s PGA winner had also been victorious on the LPGA Tour the week prior was in 2013, when Inbee Park won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
Other legends of the game including Annika Sorenstam (who achieved the feat twice, in 2003 and 2005), Laura Davies, Beth Daniel, Sandra Haynie, Kathy Whitworth, Mickey Wright, and Marlene Bauer Hagge – who was the first to win the historic double, in 1956 – have pulled off the back-to-back feat.
While Reid was already in the field at Aronimink, there was a spot left open in case the winner at the ShopRite LPGA Classic hadn’t yet had a spot in the major.
Lee-Ann Pace withdrew on Saturday, so rookie sensation Hayley Moore moved into the field. Ryann O’Toole was bumped up to first alternate Saturday, but after Reid’s victory, O’Toole is now in the field at Aronimink.
“I saw the withdrawal I think last night, so that moved me up to first alternate. And I was looking and like, ‘OK, who is possible to win that isn't going to take that spot.’ So it was sitting pretty nicely, so I was like ‘at least I get to ensure I'm playing next week.’ So I'm happy about that,” said O’Toole on Sunday after a T6 at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
“To have that opportunity to now be playing and not be sitting waiting, you know, not hoping bad on anybody, but hoping I get to play, I'm glad I can just start the week with the intention of playing.”
Esther Henseleit of Germany is now the first alternate.
