Wendy Ward is no stranger to major championships. The longtime LPGA tour professional, now 51, will make her 62nd start at a major this week at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club, played in her adopted home state of Washington.
Pardon her, though, if she needs an extra minute to find her way to the range and putting green. Her last major start was the 2013 LPGA Championship at Locust Hill Country Club in Pittsford, N.Y. So it has been a minute.
When she saw that the 2024 KPMG was headed for Sahalee, Ward, now an LPGA Teaching Professional at Manito Golf & Country Club in Spokane, decided to forgo the senior division of 2023 LPGA Professionals National Championship, and try to finish top eight in order to “try to pay with the big girls next year.”
Ward finished eighth, and here she is.
“To sneak into that eighth spot,” said Ward, a four-time winner on the LPGA and a former U.S. Women’s Amateur champion (she also won three NCAA team titles while at Arizona State). “Yes, it’s everything and more that everybody explained it should be.”
This is Ward’s 19th start in the KPMG Women’s PGA, where twice she finished third when it was the McDonald’s LPGA Championship at DuPont Country Club. This is the first time she is participating as part of the Corebridge Financial Team, which this week is represented by eight LPGA Professionals.
“As far as my game, I teach,” Ward said. “That’s pretty much my gig now.”
She teaches all levels of players, which she enjoys, and still plays in a few LPGA senior events. Ward is always looks forward to seeing some of her old friends that now are carrying the torch. Though, as Ward is quick to point out, the players in the field these days are so young, most do not know of her, or what she accomplished in the game.
“That’s fine,” Ward said. “... I’m taking it in. I know it’s a big week. I know this is a big course for me. It just feels good to be back.”
