KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: OZZIE FIREPOWER READY FOR HAZELTINE TEST

The third women's major of 2026 arrives this week at one of the most famous venues in world golf and Australia has every reason to believe another major championship could be heading down under.

Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota hosts the KPMG Women's PGA Championship for the second time, seven years after Hannah Green announced herself on the world stage with a breakthrough major victory in 2019. Now the Ozzies return with even greater strength.

Defending KPMG PGA champion Minjee Lee heads a seven-player Australian challenge that includes former champion Green, major winner Grace Kim and a new generation led by Karis Davidson, Cassie Porter, Gabriela Ruffels and Robyn Choi.

The US$13 million purse is the largest in women's golf history and the field is stacked with virtually every major contender in the game. Hazeltine is a genuine championship test. Long par fours, demanding approach shots and penal rough will place a premium on ball striking and patience. There will be no hiding place over four days.

World No.1, Nelly Korda, arrives as the player to beat. Korda has been the dominant force in women's golf over the past 18 months. Her game does not have many, if any, weak points. And while her skills make her suited to any golf course, when the venue is as tough as Hazeltine should be, she could be even more dominant. Korda will start favourite with bookmakers around the world.

Jeeno Thitikul has won plenty but she is still seeking the big win. The spur in Thitikul’s heel is, of course, the lack of a major win on her resume. The Thai star possesses the complete game required to contend on difficult major championship layouts and continues to knock on the door of a major title.

While recent results have been mixed for Lydia Ko, the New Zealander remains one of the smartest and most resilient players in the women's game. Experience counts for plenty in majors.


THE OZZIE CHANCES

Minjee Lee’s recent form has not been stellar but the defending champion still remains one of Australia's best chances. Lee has built a reputation as one of the game's premier major performers and rarely looks out of place on the toughest challenges. A win here might be against the run of form but would not surprise.

Hannah Green is returning to the site of her breakthrough major victory, and she arrives with plenty of confidence. Already a multiple winner this season, she remains firmly established among the world's elite players. Hazeltine rewards quality ball striking and Green has plenty of that.

Grace Kim is the reigning Evian champion and appears to be building momentum at the right time. A top-25 at the US Women's Open followed by a top-10 finish at the Meijer LPGA Classic suggests her game is trending nicely. Kim has the length and aggression to attack Hazeltine if her putter cooperates.

Karis Davidson is perhaps the most intriguing Australian story entering the week. Davidson has quietly produced some of the most consistent golf of any Ozzie this season. Davidson has confidence in her game if she finished as best placed Ozzie that would not surprise, and that probably means being near the top of the leaderboard.

Cassie Porter continues to impress. Porter arrives at Hazeltine after consecutive top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour and appears increasingly comfortable at the highest level. The challenge will be handling the pressure and intensity of major championship golf, but her recent form suggests she is more than capable of surprising people. Porter is one of the best dark horses in the field.

In the women’s game there are about 20 players who could win this week and no one would be surprised. Think of Ruoning Yin, Sei Young Kim, Maja Stark, Ayaka Furue, Miyu Yamashita, Charlie Hull and Lottie Woad. Korda remains the favourite, however Australians have won two of the past seven Women's PGA Championships through Green and Lee. Let’s hope that Hazeltine produces another chapter in that success story.