Ten years of KPMG — Will Brooke Henderson prevail in Seattle again?
By Addie Parker
The IX: Golf Thursday with Addie Parker, June 20, 2024
Happy Golf Thursday! After last week’s Meijer LPGA Classic showdown between Lilia Vu, Lexi Thompson, and Grace Kim (ending with Vu as the victor), we head into the third major week of the year where things feel a bit more…intense.
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Chevron and the USWO very much felt like the Nelly Korda Show, all eyes were on her to see what history she could make, but now that we’re firmly cemented in summer golf—players are more settled and finding their groove. Some familiar names are trending up the leaderboards. New characters have entered the plot, and with the Olympics and Solheim Cup looming in the near future, spots need to be secured, and you better believe these players are locked in.
But let’s focus on Seattle.
Sahalee Country Club sits just 100 miles shy of the Canadian border and the views are stunning, to say the least. Narrow fairways lined tightly with trees, delicately placed bunkers, and sloping greens — this is what a championship-caliber course looks like.
Renowned golf journalist Keith Stuart breaks down how players will have to manage Sahalee if they want to contend for the trophy.
This year marks 10 years of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
As an audit, tax, and advisory service to many of the world’s leading organizations, KPMG knows a thing or two about data collection. From providing tour performance insights and stats to putting on an annual leadership summit about women in the C-suite, KPMG has not just talked a big game when it comes to supporting women’s golf but has shown action behind its words.
Introducing Shelly Bean the Sports Queen!
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The tournament purse has continued to increase (up to 360%) each year. The event has been hosted at iconic venues like Congressional, Hazeltine, and Baltusrol last year.
The last time the tour was in Seattle for KPMG, the world saw Brooke Henderson’s life change forever.
Being chased down by World No.1 Lydia Ko, the young Canadian golfer’s near-perfect 155-yard shot during the first playoff hole was enough to secure Henderson’s first major title of her career.
It’s a shot that is etched not just in our brains as Henderson’s “welcome to the big leagues” moment, but that shot is literally cemented into the ground. The course gifted her a placard in the 18th fairway to commemorate her win.
Much like Lancaster, Salahee will be a challenge and we’re in for a real treat this week, golf fans. This really could be any player’s championship to win and drama feels almost inevitable.
Happy watching!!
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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@theixsports.com ! Discussion of any kind is always welcome…I mean it…MESSAGE ME!
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Lexi Thompson’s game is on the rise
KPMG, T-Mobile and the PGA of America collaborate to drive technology innovation in women’s golf
LET News
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24/7 women’s soccer coverage with The Equalizer
The IX is partnering with The Equalizer to bring more women’s sports stories to your inbox. Subscribers to The IX receive 50% off their subscription to The Equalizer for 24/7 coverage of women’s soccer.
Five at The IX: Brooke Henderson talks returning to Seattle and her 2016 KPMG win
Q: All right, good morning. Pleased to welcome in the last winner of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee, Brooke Henderson. Brooke, welcome back. Just reflect on your win back here in 2016. What do you remember most about it?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Honestly everything just went so perfectly that week. I felt like it was meant to be, especially that Sunday round on that back nine shooting 4-under I guess and the eagle on 11 and clutch par save on 18; everything was falling my way.
So it’s definitely an extremely special week that I’ll remember forever. This place, Sahalee, is special to me regardless of what happens this week, it will always hold a special place in my heart.
Q. Very tight off the tee this week. What’s going to be the strategy to attack this course and what do you remember about 2016 that maybe you’ll lean on?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, I love the huge towering trees and the tight fairways. It’s almost majestic. Feels very peaceful and amazing, but at the same time a little bit stressful because you have to hit it so straight.
That’s the number one priority this week is trying to hit a lot of fairways, keeping the ball in play, and giving your self good looks for birdies when you can and making those clutch par saves when you need to.
Remembering back to 2016, this course played really tough. Not very many people were under par at the end of the four days, so I think just capitalizing where you can and just making the most of what you have.
Q. Yesterday you were made an honorary member here at Sahalee. How special of a moment was that for you?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Absolutely. To come back here and to be given honorary membership, and to have a plaque on the 18th hole with my name on it forever is extremely special and meaningful. Like I said before, this place will always hold a very special place in my heart.
I think back to eight years ago and a lot of those moments, I think they’ll live in my mind forever. Just such great feelings. I’m hoping this week to go out and be grateful for the opportunity I have to be back here playing in a major championship and hopefully make the most of it.
Q. You were asked a lot about Sahalee in the weeks leading in. Actually getting on property and feeling and seeing it, does it bring back a lot of emotions you didn’t know would be there?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, definitely. Played all 18 holes in my pro-am yesterday and just every hole it was — just kind of brought a smile to my face. It did bring up a lot of emotion and almost like chills, you know, just walking the fairways and remembering some of the good things I did, and some of the bad things I did, but mainly the good.
Just great memories, and I think this place for everyone just kind of brings some peace because it’s so beautiful. I’m hoping to lean into that week and just enjoy the week.
Q: How does this course rank compared to some of the other courses that you go on a week-to-week basis or tour?
BROOKE HENDERSON: This is a tough course, yeah. You can see it from the scores back in 2016. Not a lot of people under par. It was a struggle to make birdies and save pars on certain holes.
Definitely be a huge challenge this week, but at the same time, the course is in perfect condition. It’s very beautiful here. The greens are soft right now, which I think is really helpful. As the week goes on I think it’s supposed to get a little bit warmer so might firm up a little bit. Soft greens will definitely be helpful in working your way around this course.
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