Welcome to this week’s Golf Insider, everyone!
The 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship wrapped up on Sunday, June 28, and we had a first-time major winner hoist the trophy.
On championship Sunday at the KPMG, Haeran Ryu shot a final-round 70 (-2) to win her first major title at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. Ryu made some history along the way, becoming the first player in the last 60 years to win a major championship after being behind 10 or more strokes after the first round.
After the first round, Ryu found herself 10 shots back of leader Ina Yoon after shooting a 73 (+1) to Yoon’s 63 (-9). Most players would sit back with the mindset that the championship is lost, that there’s no chance. But we saw it with Nelly Korda being seven shots back after the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera: winners don’t sit back, and they don’t give up.
Ryu showed that she absolutely belongs in that group of high-caliber contenders. In the second round, Ryu fired a bogey-free 8-under-par 64 to climb from a tie for 70th place to a tie for second place.
Then, in the third round, Ryu was the best of the bunch, shooting a 68 (-4) to climb to a one shot lead by the end of the day. Her front nine was lights-out. She carded three birdies and an eagle on her way to a 5-under 31. The back nine was a different story, but Ryu hung in there.
“I started the back nine, it was more windy and a lot of tough shots and tough putts, but I just made one bogey today, so it was, I think, good for me for tomorrow,” Ryu said in a post-round press conference on June 27.
And Ryu was right; her ability to stay calm under the pressure of a tough moving day back nine and take the lead after 54-holes prepared her to lead the charge on Sunday. The weather, though, had other plans. After a three and a half hour weather delay, players were finally able to tee off in the final round.
Ryu, like the other competitors, was probably thrown off by the delay. Any extra minute, let alone hour, that you have to spend waiting for your group to tee off is extra time towards overthinking your final round. You’ve already completed your warm-up routine, and you’re ready to go. Idle time is anxiety. Take it from an overthinker.
On the first hole of her final round, Ryu carded a bogey. But she didn’t take long to settle in. Ryu fought through two more bogeys and carded three birdies on her way to a front-nine 36. Clean slate.
This is when championship Ryu kicked into gear. With Yoon hanging around, Brooke Henderson lurking on the doorstep and Dewi Weber making the chase of her life, Ryu had to be solid. And solid she was, carding two birdies on holes No. 10 and 12 along with seven pars to shoot a 2-under-par 70.
Ryu accredited her stellar ball-striking to how Korean golfers grow up practicing.
“In Korea culture a lot of young golfers started to practice a lot in the morning, started around the 9:00 and finish around afternoon 6:00, so I don’t know the American players, but in Korea, players just practice a lot for the swing,” Ryu said in a post-win press conference on June 28.
The 25-year-old is in her fourth season on the LPGA Tour, and this win at the KPMG is her fourth LPGA Tour title. She’s now got a win in each of her first four seasons on tour, which shows incredible consistency. But consistency is not necessarily a word Ryu would describe for her season this year.
Ryu’s last start before the KPMG last week was in mid-May at the Kroger Queen City Championship. She’s been taking a bit of a break after undergoing a minor surgery and hasn’t been able to practice at the ideal level for competition. But this win was huge proof that putting your head down and grinding works just about every time.
I loved watching Ryu’s final round. She was as cool and collected as could be. She’s definitely one of those players where you can never really tell if she’s playing well or playing poorly. Ryu’s slight smile and bright eyes tell the story; she’s a calm contender.
And guess what? I told you that major championship season is just getting started. Next week, we’ll head across the pond and take a look at the top storylines heading into the Amundi Evian Championship.
See you then, golf fans.
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This week in women’s golf
LPGA News
Haeran Ryu wins the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship for her first major title
Dewi Weber can now define herself as a major championship contender after Sunday at Hazeltine
Class A professional Nicole Felce bounces back to make cut at KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
Maja Stark leaning on unique mental perspective at KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
Ina Yoon opens the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine with record-tying 63
LET News
Harry looking to reignite spark as she returns to Belgium as defending champion
Five talking points ahead of the Hulencourt Women’s Open
Watch live: Hulencourt Women’s Open
LET back in Belgium for Hulencourt Women’s Open
Seven of the world’s top 10 confirmed for 2026 ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open
Hull still leads 2026 Solheim Cup points list after the third major of the year
“My biggest dream!” Komulainen reflects on special win 14 years in the making
Komulainen claims emotional playoff victory at Tipsport Czech Ladies Open
Epson Tour News
Kaleiya Romero hoists first professional victory on Epson Tour at Island Resort Championship
Epson Tour rookie Kaleiya Romero fires 7-under 65 with tournament ace
Three athletes shoot 8-under to tie the lead through round one of 2026 Island Resort Championship
Amateur News
Virginia Tech’s Valentine Delon claims Women’s Amateur Championship title
Vanderbilt University’s Lynn Lim awarded 2026 Dinah Shore trophy
Five at The IX: Kaleiya Romero outlasts Liqi Zeng to win first pro title at 2026 Island Resort Championship
On Sunday, June 28, Kaleiya Romero won her first professional title at the Epson Tour’s Island Resort Championship. After shooting a final-round 68, Romero beat Liqi Zeng on the first playoff hole with an eagle 3 to claim the trophy. With the win, Romero earned 500 points in the Race for the Card standings, the Epson Tour’s season-long road to gaining LPGA Tour membership. She sits in second place in those standings. Here are some quotes from Romero’s post-win press conference.
Q: You went into your second playoff for the second week in a row, and this time you came out with victory. So, how are you feeling right now?
KALEIYA ROMERO: Super happy, kind of relieved. Last week I was nervous. I think I haven’t been in contention in a while just because I had taken a year off from competing. Yeah, so just to be back, to have another opportunity to try again and come out on top, it just means a lot and super happy.
Q: What were your thoughts and emotions when you were hitting your shot, approach shot on 18 on the playoff hole?
ROMERO: I was kind of in the similar spot that I was when I was finishing up on 18, but I had a 5-iron and I chunked it pretty bad and I thought it was in the water, but I think the wind must have taken it and it carried onto the green and rolled right out to the pin. So, I was just so relieved, oh my heart was probably beating so fast, but, I’m glad that I gave myself another look at eagle.
Q: You’ve had a really great rookie season so far. We’re halfway through right now, so how are you feeling mentally and physically that we’re halfway through?
ROMERO: It’s been a lot of golf that I’m not like really used to, playing this many tournaments in a row. To think that we’re only halfway done is kind of crazy, but I’m happy with where my game’s at and just super excited that, I’m out here competing and contending. I just keep it going and hopefully we’ll find ourselves on the LPGA next year.
Q: In really high-pressure situations like last week and today, how helpful is it to have someone like your boyfriend be your caddy as well?
ROMERO: It’s been awesome because he keeps me pretty calm and whenever I look like I’m not having a great time, he always tries to distract me by saying something dumb or singing a song. I don’t know, he says some most random things out there, but it’s a nice distraction because sometimes I’ll get down and he’ll be like, what are you even mad for? You just made a par or something. And so just to have someone always there to cheer me up and kind of keep things fun and laid back on the course is really nice.
Q: So, you not only won the tournament, but you also won the Pure Michigan Cup. And so how helpful is it that the Pure Michigan Cup allows for extra incentive for women’s golf in the Epson Tour?
ROMERO: It’s nice especially with traveling all over the country. It’s a lot just to get to each tournament is a lot and so to have a little extra bonus to help get through the season and just a bit more to play for each event maybe helps you focus a little bit more is just it’s a nice bonus incentive.
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