Everyone loves Megan Khang — Andrea Lee ready to defend in Portland — Must-click women’s golf links
By Addie Parker
The IX: Golf Thursday with Addie Parker, Aug. 31, 2023
Happy Golf Thursday! It’s been yet another ultra-busy week in the realm of golf, but that’s exactly how we like things around here. From a dramatic finish in Canada (which we’ll get to) to Stacy Lewis solidifying her Spain squad, there’s a lot to digest. We are 22 days away from the Solheim Cup, and Megan Khang, an integral player to Team USA, finally got her maiden win in Canada. I mean seriously, the amount of people who stormed the green after she won speaks volumes.
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In the eighth playoff of the season, Khang bested Jin Young Ko after having to grind out a birdie on the 18th hole to extend her chances of capturing that elusive first win after 191 starts on tour.
She’s known around the tour as the girl who will wear shorts no matter the temperature, a tribute to her Massachusetts roots I suppose, and for her happy-go-lucky attitude. Her story isn’t as bright as her smile. Her family had to flee Vietnam at the height of the war, sacrificing everything for the sake of merely surviving. She doesn’t shy away from the sacrifices her family had to make to ensure that she could have a better life.
“I know I wouldn’t be here without the sacrifices my family has made. It’s us against the world. That’s kind of how I look at it.”
Megan Khang on her family.
She’s besties with the Korda sisters, and other players around the tour couldn’t wait to sing her praises after her win on Sunday. Her fellow Solheim Cup team members Danielle Kang, Lilia Vu, Cheyenne Knight, Rose Zhang, and Allisen Corpuz took to Instagram to wish her congratulations.
Khang’s win punctuated the U.S. Solheim team’s qualifying period with another victory for an American — marking three events in a row that an American has won (Lilia Vu at the AIG Women’s Open, Alexa Pano at the ISPS Handa World Invitational).
This momentum swing toward the Americans is a great sign as Finca Coretisin inches closer — players are reaching top form and winning — what more could we ask for?
Khang’s positive attitude and close relationship with so many of her teammates are the cherry on top of her being a part of Team USA. I have a feeling that she, Danielle Kang, and Lexi Thompson will be the emotional leaders of the team. They have seen the losing side of this competition and with so many fresh faces, the role they play will be essential to the connectedness this team needs to be able to capture the cup.
Khang’s Canadian victory won’t be her last, and I’m so happy to see her hitting her stride. She’s in the field this week at the Portland Classic — see all the details about that in the links.
See you next week, golf fans!
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This week in women’s golf
If you have links you wish to share for Golf Thursday, sources for golf news, or want to talk about anything at all, you can email me at addieparker25@gmail.com ! Discussion of any kind is always welcome…I mean it…MESSAGE ME!
LPGA News — The Portland Classic
Featured groups at the Portland Classic
Portland Classic’s field breakdown
How to watch the Portland Classic
5 storylines to follow this week in Portland
Unburdened, Andrea Lee defends her title in Portland fresh off Solheim berth
Plan to win in Portland, pay attention to last week’s leaderboard
Players poised for a first win just might find it in Portland
All things Solheim
2023 Solheim Cup: Meet the United States Team
Solheim Cup 2023: What each team will wear in Spain
Captain’s picks round out U.S. Solheim Cup team with eye toward swinging momentum the Americans’ way
LET News
Storylines to follow at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open
Leona Macguire is happy to have the home crowd support
How to watch the KPMG Women’s Irish Open
LET Podcast: Defending champ of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open Klara Davidson Spilkova sits for a conversation, listen now!
Epson Tour News
After first going silent on Juli Inkster, Jenny Bae now leans on star as she prepares for LPGA debut
Van life: Paige Crawford’s traveling home breaks down en route to Q School
NCAA/Amateur News
Amateurs lead the way after 18 Holes of play at Stage I
Other News
Canadians Corey Conners, Brooke Henderson team up for Grant Thornton Invitational
After near-misses, Trish Johnson claims the 5th U.S. Senior Women’s Open
LPGA to help offset player expenses at select tournaments with new five-year partnership
Five at The IX: Andrea Lee on her win in Portland a year ago and Solheim Cup expectations
Q: Okay, welcome Andrea Lee back to the media center here at the Portland Classic. It’s been a year now since you were last with us. Hoping you can tell us what you remember from your victory last year and how special this place is to you.
ANDREA LEE: Yeah, I mean, Portland will always have a special place in my heart being a first-time LPGA winner here and just all the emotions I feel like are coming back as I look at 18 and the moment that I had with my dad last year just kind of crying it out and having that embrace after I won.
So it was definitely a special week and I’m looking forward to defending this week.
Q. What was it like watching the leaderboard in Canada after finished your round?
ANDREA LEE: Yeah, it was a little stressful. I didn’t know where I needed to finish going into the week to automatically qualify for the Solheim Cup team. I said this in the interview afterwards, I said I saw Grant’s tweet the night before, Saturday night, where I needed to finish. I was like, I didn’t really want to know that.
But, I went out there and just stuck to my game plan and tried not look at the leaderboards all day. It’s kind of inevitable at the end. There are leaderboards on 16, 17, 18. I was playing really solid golf, and, yeah, just stayed super patient until the end, and then sweated it out a little bit waiting afterwards.
Q: I’m going to ask a couple about Solheim. I know this will be your first Solheim Cup this year. What are maybe your expectations having played Junior Solheim Cup? You played that. What are your expectations for the Solheim Cup this year?
ANDREA LEE: Yeah, I’m extremely excited. I can’t wait to tee it up for USA and play for Stacy Lewis, who is someone I’ve look up to for a long time. Used to be No. 1 in the world and just a fighter.
She’s battled scoliosis and she is just a great leader, so I’m excited to play for her and the team. But just thinking back to like my junior Solheim Cup days, I remember just watching the real thing after ours was over and it was just so fun. The fans and the crowds and all the chanting and singing.
It was just such a crazy atmosphere and I’m just really looking forward to being a part of that. Yeah, I can’t wait.
Q: What are some of the things you’re expecting from the team or has Stacy talked to you about what’s coming up for you guys team-wise? Anything fun happening?
ANDREA LEE: She just mainly told us be ready to kind of be bombarded I guess by everything that goes on that week. You’re not going to have tons of time to yourself. It’s going to be a very, very busy week, lots of events, opening ceremonies, just bonding with the team and team dinners.
It’s a real honor just to be able to represent my country, and I’m totally fine with doing all that stuff. I have no complaints. Just really excited to tee it up in Spain.
Q. The Solheim Cup is one of the most intense events and you talked last year about how you dealt with winning in Portland. What do you think you learned from that experience you can take into Solheim Cup?
ANDREA LEE: Yeah, I think last year I definitely learned a lot about myself coming down the stretch at Portland, being able to handle those nerves under pressure, knowing where I was on the leaderboard.
You know, I feel like I’m a bit more experienced now, and, yeah, I’m going to take all of these with me to the Solheim Cup.
Just learning from all those past experiences, I think are going to really help me. It’s definitely going to be I think a more intense atmosphere with all the fans and the massive crowds. But I really enjoy that honestly. Just I kind of enjoy the big crowds. I’m just really excited for more than anything.
So I think just having my teammates and Stacy and the assistant captains there I’ll be able to handle the pressure well.
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