Photo Credit: LPGA
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Moving Day lived up to its name Saturday at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. The leaderboard changed quickly as several contenders battled for position at Hazeltine National Golf Club.
After entering the day with a commanding five-shot lead, Ina Yoon struggled early and watched her advantage disappear. Meanwhile, Haeran Ryu delivered the best round among the leaders and earned a one-shot lead entering Sunday’s final round.
Yoon began the day at 12-under after rounds of 63 and 69. However, trouble arrived immediately. She opened with a bogey on the first hole before adding another on the second. Although she answered with a birdie on the third, more mistakes followed. Back-to-back bogeys on the fifth and sixth holes opened the door for the chasing pack. As a result, her comfortable lead quickly vanished.
At nearly the same time, Ryu found another gear. She birdied the opening hole before producing one of the biggest moments of the tournament. An eagle on the par-5 seventh completed a dramatic swing atop the leaderboard. After making the turn in 5-under 31, Ryu stayed steady throughout the back nine. She finished with a 4-under 68 and reached 11-under for the championship.
Ryu now sits one shot ahead of Brooke Henderson. The South Korean has won one LPGA title in each of the previous three seasons. Nevertheless, Sunday’s round offers an opportunity for the biggest victory of her career. She handled the pressure well Saturday and never surrendered the lead after moving in front.
Henderson also positioned herself for another major championship. The Canadian fired a 3-under 69 and finished the day at 10-under. She climbed the leaderboard with consecutive birdies on the eighth and ninth holes before adding another birdie on the 16th. Consequently, she trails Ryu by only one stroke entering the final round.
Henderson seeks her third career major title. She also hopes to repeat history at this championship. In 2016, she became the youngest player to win the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at only 18 years old. Now, ten years later, she stands one strong round away from another memorable victory.
Yoon recovered after her difficult opening stretch and fought to remain in contention. She carded a 3-over 75 and slipped into third place at 9-under. Although she lost the lead, she remains only two shots behind Ryu. Therefore, she still has a realistic chance to capture the championship on Sunday.
World number one Nelly Korda also stayed within striking distance. Korda mixed three birdies with two bogeys during a 1-under 71. She finished the third round tied for sixth at 7-under, four shots behind the leader. While she never mounted a huge charge, she consistently kept herself close enough to remain dangerous.
Korda thrilled fans throughout the afternoon. Large galleries followed every shot as spectators hoped to witness another comeback. She birdied the 11th hole before adding another birdie on the par-3 13th. At one point, she moved within three shots of the lead. However, a bogey on the 17th slowed her momentum late in the round.
Korda also showed her tremendous power with a towering 337-yard drive that became one of Saturday’s highlights. Although she trails by four shots, the world’s top-ranked player remains capable of making a Sunday charge. She also seeks her third consecutive major championship victory during an outstanding 2026 season.
Several other players stayed within reach entering the final day. Dewi Weber and A Lim Kim finished tied for fourth at 8-under. Alison Lee joined Korda at 7-under after producing one of the day’s most spectacular shots. Lee nearly aced the par-4 16th before tapping in for eagle, vaulting herself into contention.
Saturday featured dramatic momentum swings from start to finish. Yoon entered with complete control after building the tournament’s largest 36-hole lead since 2010. She also led the field in greens in regulation and birdies through two rounds. Nevertheless, golf can change quickly, and Hazeltine demanded precision throughout the day.
The course rewarded aggressive play while punishing mistakes. Ryu capitalized on every opportunity, especially across the front nine. Meanwhile, Henderson steadily climbed without forcing risky shots. Their consistency ultimately proved more valuable than Yoon’s early advantage.
The final leaderboard after three rounds featured Ryu first at 11-under. Henderson followed at 10-under, while Yoon stood alone in third at 9-under. Weber and A Lim Kim shared fourth at 8-under. Korda and Alison Lee entered the final round tied for sixth at 7-under.
Another storyline involved local favorite Nicole Felce. After making the cut with steady play during the opening two rounds, Felce endured a difficult Saturday. She shot a 10-over 82, dropping to last place in the field. As a result, she will tee off in the first group during Sunday’s final round. Despite the disappointing score, making the weekend at a major championship remains an important accomplishment for the local standout.
Sunday now promises an exciting finish at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Ryu holds the lead, but several accomplished players remain close behind. Henderson hopes to add another major trophy. Yoon aims to recover after a challenging round. Meanwhile, Korda still chases another remarkable comeback.
With only four shots separating the leader from the world’s top-ranked player, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship appears headed for a thrilling finish
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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