The KPMG Women's PGA Championship preview

The GIST: The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship — the second of five LPGA majors — tees off tomorrow from Springfield, NJ, with 19 of the top 20 players in the world, plus one wunderkind rookie, anda $9M purse on the line. Say less.

Rose Zhang: It’s her world and we’re just living in it. The aforementioned breakout star soared onto the scene earlier this month, becoming the first player in 72 years to win in her LPGA pro debut, hoisting the trophy at the Mizuho Americas Open.

• And the Zhang Effect will certainly be in full force once again, with the 20-year-old paired in a marquee group featuring world No. 5 Minjee Lee of Australia and fellow American, world No. 9 Lexi Thompson. Is there more history on the horizon?

More players to watch: Plenty of other golfers deserve their flowers, too. Still in search of her first-ever major win, Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand has all the momentum to finally break through — the world No. 6 has the most top-10 finishes on the tour this year.

• This weekend also marks the triumphant return of world No. 2 Nelly Korda, who’s been out since May due to injury. A victory at the Women’s PGA Championship, where she won her first and only major back in 2021, would be the perfect welcome back present.

• Last but not least, Canada’s Brooke Henderson certainly has a shot at her third career major title. The world No. 10 won the Women’s PGA Championship in 2016 and her long drive–focused game could bring success on the redesigned course. Sounds great, eh?