SAMMAMISH, Wash. — The best women’s golfers in the world are in Sammamish this week for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club. The tournament is one of women’s golf's five major championships.
Fans crowded the fairways during the opening round on Thursday. More than 5,000 patrons are expected to follow their favorite players throughout the tree-lined course every day of the tournament.
Sahalee is a golf treasure of the Pacific Northwest and has a rich history. It hosted the men’s PGA Championship in 1999, won by Hall of Famer Vijay Singh.
Eight years ago it hosted the Women’s PGA Championship won by Brooke Henderson. She is playing this week but so are new golf stars that weren't here in 2016.
All eyes are on the World’s number-one-ranked golfer, Nelly Korda. She drew the largest galleries during the first round
The 25-year-old has already had a historic season with six wins. She’s the first American to win six tournaments in a season since 1990.
The champion of this week’s event will take home $1.56 million. When the same tournament was played here in 2016, the champion’s payout was one-third of that.
The overall $10.4 million purse is just one example of the growth of the sport.
“I’m a golfer and golf fan,” seventh grader Kalia Hoang said. “It’s really great to see the golfers up close and see them do what they’re great at.”
The game is drawing young fans like Kalia from Bothell. She spent Thursday following young phenom Rose Zhang and Korda.
“They’re really inspirational and just great in general,” Kalia said.
More young women are getting out on the golf course, and this week is a chance to expose these kids to the very best. Kalia’s dad said he hopes seeing these professionals will inspire her to continue to immerse herself in the game.
“I want to encourage them to be their own person, and they can do anything men can do,” Phu Hoang said.
The tournament continues through Sunday when a champion will be crowned.
The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship airs on KING 5 Saturday from 12 – 3 p.m. and Sunday from 12 – 4 p.m.