2023 KPMG PGA Championship: Prize Money, Power Rankings, and Defending Champion

The thrill and excitement for golf enthusiasts are not over yet. After a historic and interesting men’s major, the US Open, golf fans are now ready for yet another riveting weekend.

The KPMG PGA Championship is all set to begin from June 22 to June 25 at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey. This year, the tournament is returning for its 68th edition, making it the second-longest-running LPGA Tour tournament.

So, what does the field for the event look like? How much will the eventual winner take home in earnings? Let’s dive in to find out more about the forthcoming championship.

2023 KPMG PGA Championship Power Rankings

As the KPMG PGA Championship kicks off on Thursday, many in the 155-player field will want to make a stellar impression at the event. Here are some of the favorites to watch out for.

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Currently sitting at the top of the Rolex ranking, Jin Young Ko is a top favorite for the championship. She has been having a good year so far and recently emerged victorious in the Cognizant Founders Cup. In her recent appearance at the Mizuho Americas Open, the world’s number one female golfer finished T13.

Ranked-No.2 Nelly Korda can’t be taken lightly either. As a reminder, she clinched her first major victory in this very tournament back in 2021. Korda is one of the top contenders to win again this year. She has had a fruitful year so far, wherein she finished T3 at the Chevron Championship and T6 at the JM Eagle LA Championship.

She withdrew from the Mizuho Americas Open owing to her back injury but we hope that she returns in full swing in Springfield this coming week.

The third contender, number eight-ranked Lexi Thompson is a lone major winner; she won in 2014 but last year she lost to In Gee Chun in a head-to-head final round. She has been having an average year so far, though she has been making cuts in the tournaments.

It will definitely be rip-roaring to see Thompson redeem herself after her previous year’s experience at the PGA Championship.

No.4-ranked Lilia Vu, the winner of the 2023 Chevron Championship, comes in next. She should be motivated to win her second career major in the same year.

In Gee Chun, the defending champion, is also one of the favorites to lift the title. She finished T18 in the Chevron Championship and was able to make the cut at her last competitive event, the Meijer LPGA Classic.

The field at the KPMG PGA Championship and prize purse

The 2023 edition of the prestigious KPMG PGA Championship boasts a 155-player field, which will be headlined by the likes of Nelly Korda, Minjee Lee, Jin Young Ko, Lydia Ko, and Lilia Vu. Additionally, Moriya Jutanugarn, Ariya Jutanugarn, Danielle Kang, Brooke Henderson and Lexi Thompson are also set to make an appearance.

The four-day tournament also boasts an incredible prize purse of $9,000,000.

Defending champion at the 2023 KPMG PGA Championship

In 2022, In Gee Chun emerged victorious at the women’s PGA Championship. She overshadowed Lexi Thompson to grab her third major title. Her 2022 championship started well, with a score of 64-69 in the first two rounds. But as the weekend approached, her game somewhat started to slip but she was still in the lead by three strokes as she started her final round.

Her victory was a rare sight: a golfer hitting 3 over on the final day and still being able to lift the trophy.

What are your thoughts about the upcoming women’s major tournament? Who are you rooting for? Let us know in the comments below!

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