In Gee Chun holds on to just take residence Women's PGA Championship

In Gee Chun was an upbeat, smiling presence during the Women's PGA Championship — easy plenty of when you shoot 64 in the very first round and guide comfortably for significantly of the match.

In the closing spherical, all of her optimistic thinking was place to the check.

"Golfing is hardly ever quick," the 27-year-outdated South Korean said.

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In Gee Chun, of South Korea, poses with the winners trophy after profitable the KPMG Women's PGA Championship golf match at Congressional Region Club, Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Bethesda, Md.  (G3 Box News Picture/Nick Wass)

Chun won her 3rd big championship, taking part in her very best in the first spherical on a moist working day and then persevering as a result of a steamy weekend at Congressional. On Sunday, she immediately dropped what was remaining of a once-sizeable direct, then rallied to gain by a single when Lexi Thompson's placing faltered down the extend.

Chun shot a 3-about 75 on each and every of the last two days of the event. She finished at 5-underneath 283, barely enough to defeat out Thompson (73) and Minjee Lee (70) by a stroke.

"In advance of start out currently my coach informed me, ‘In Gee, if you appreciate your recreation, this trophy is yours,'" Chun claimed. "Sometimes it’s actually really hard to maintain smiling when my sport, I suggest, likely not excellent, but I feel I hung in there. So I’m so happy now."

The 27-year-previous Floridian botched a par putt from a few toes on No. 14, but a birdie on 15 restored her direct to two. Then she bogeyed the par-5 16th even though Chun built birdie, leaving the two gamers tied with two holes remaining.

Thompson, who declined a publish-round news meeting, three-putted for bogey on 17. Immediately after an outstanding tactic from the tough on 18, her birdie putt was not strike firmly ample.

Chun's tactic on the par-4 18th bounced past the hole and just off the back again of the eco-friendly, but she putted to in about 5 toes and sank her par try for the get.

In Gee Chun, of South Korea, left, hugs Lexi Thompson immediately after Chun gained the KPMG Women's PGA Championship golfing match at Congressional Place Club, Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Bethesda, Md.  (G3 Box News Photo/Nick Wass)

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It was Chun's initially victory wherever in the world given that 2018 and only her second in the United States — her 1st was the 2015 U.S. Open. She gained her second key the following calendar year at the Evian Championship in France.

Now, Chun is the 3rd participant from South Korea to acquire at the very least 3 majors, trailing Inbee Park (7) and Se Ri Pak (five).

Chun led by seven strokes just after finishing her 8-below 64 in wet conditions Thursday. The lead was down to 5 at the close of that working day — even now equaling the major 18-gap edge in the history of women’s majors.

That extraordinary beginning gave her some home for mistake — and also set her up for a probably grueling weekend of substantial-pressure golfing. She was even now 6 strokes forward coming into Saturday, but the guide was down to three immediately after 3 rounds.

"The initial day, she was genuinely enthusiastic because of the 64," caddie Dean Herden reported. "It can be difficult to serene down soon after a 64 mainly because you are pumped."

Thompson has not gained an LPGA Tour function because 2019, and her lone big victory came as a teenager at Mission Hills in the California desert in 2014. She’s unquestionably experienced chances. She misplaced a five-stroke direct in the course of the ultimate spherical of last year’s U.S. Women’s Open up at Olympic Club.

At Congressional she was 10 strokes back again soon after the to start with round ahead of steadily chasing down Chun. Thompson built birdies on Nos. 1 and 3 on Sunday. Chun bogeyed Nos. 2 and 4 to slide behind.

Thompson skipped shorter birdie putts on the eighth and ninth — foreshadowing her troubles later on in the round — but Chun’s 40 on the entrance nine still left her two back at the switch. Sei Young Kim, who experienced created it to 6 beneath at one particular stage, bogeyed Nos. 8, 10, 11 and 12 and was not a component immediately after that.

When Chun built her initial birdie of the working day at the par-5 11th, Thompson answered with a birdie of her individual to stay two pictures forward at 7 beneath. When Thompson bogeyed No. 12, so did Chun.

In Gee Chun, of South Korea, kisses the winners trophy, after winning the KPMG Women's PGA Championship golfing event at Congressional Region Club, Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Bethesda, Md.  (G3 Box News Picture/Terrance Williams)

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The 16th gap, wherever Chun took an unplayable lie and a double bogey the prior day, was the turning stage in her favor in the remaining spherical. Thompson was just brief and suitable of the environmentally friendly in two shots but took four from there to make bogey, although Chun rolled in her birdie putt following a extended wait around.

Lee, who trailed by six at the start off of the day, just missed an eagle putt on No. 16 that could have tied her for the direct. When Thompson birdied the 15th and Lee bogeyed the 17th, the Australian was three at the rear of.

A fantastic solution on the ultimate hole gave Lee a brief birdie putt, but immediately after producing that, she nonetheless desired Thompson to drop two much more strokes.

That essentially took place, but Chun’s birdie and two pars on the last a few holes were being ample to earn.

"I under no circumstances definitely felt much too out of it just after turning at even par soon after 9," stated Lee, this year's U.S. Women's Open up champ. "I believed if I can make 1 or two birdies coming in, then I could possibly have a prospect."

Chun has spoken in the previous about battling depression, and she became psychological right after this victory when talking about a the latest dialogue she had with her sister.

"I seriously cried. I reported, ‘I’m definitely tricky to continue to be in the U.S.,’" Chun stated. "She explained, ‘In Gee, just quit golfing. You are the crucial issue.’ ... When I heard what she reported, I really do not want to -- I didn’t want to quit the golf. Then I believe that I still have a spirit, and I noticed, In Gee, you still want to engage in golf."

In Gee Chun, of South Korea, wipes her eyes as she prepares for her caddy's hug following profitable the KPMG Women's PGA Championship golf match at Congressional Nation Club, Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Bethesda, Md. (G3 Box News Photo/Terrance Williams)

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"So I am attempting to definitely tricky this 7 days," she extra. "I’m just so joyful to make gain soon after all that took place."

NOTES: Chun received $1.35 million immediately after the prize funds for this event was doubled. ... Defending winner Nelly Korda (75) concluded tied for 30th.