Amy Yang Prepares to Defend Her Title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
FRISCO — On Sunday, Amy Yang finished the final round of another grueling U.S. Women’s Open, at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, caught a 5 p.m. flight to Dallas and arrived in Frisco at about 10 p.m.
She awoke in time Monday to play the PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch East Course and, at 1 p.m., attend media day of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, where she will defend her title June 19-22.
Big time golf in Frisco: Photos from Women’s PGA Championship media day
“Why not take the opportunity to see the course this morning, even though I’m a little tired?” she said with a smile, as she did throughout media day. “I think I made a good decision.”
The Course and Tournament Details
Indeed, Fields East has only been open since spring 2023, meaning South Korea’s Yang will be among the relative few of the 156 players in the Women’s PGA field to play the course before tournament week.
The Women’s PGA will be the second major tournament played at Fields East, on the 660-acre home of the PGA of America. It also will be the first Women’s PGA played in Texas and the first women’s major in North Texas since the 1991 U.S. Women’s Open at Fort Worth’s Colonial Country Club.
The first major played at Fields East was the May 2023 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, won by Steve Stricker in a playoff against Pádraig Harrington.
When the PGA of America in August 2022 relocated from Palm Gardens, Fla., to its state-of-the-art, $33.5 million headquarters building in Frisco, it promised many big tournaments to come.
The PGA Championship will be here in 2027 and 2034. The Senior PGA Championship returns in 2029 and the Women’s PGA in 2031.
Yang’s Preparation and Expectations
“Oh, I had so much fun this morning,” Yang said. “The course is playing tough, but still fair. I think it’s gonna test all aspects of your game. So I can’t wait to come back and play the championship.”
Yang, 35, won’t have to wait long. Championship director Jason Mengel said the PGA sold out both its initial and expanded plans of 25-person skybox units.
Mengel said the pro-am is only one group shy of a sellout, 1,000 volunteers are committed to help run the tournament, and only a limited number of Club PGA and general admission tickets remain.
Along with getting to watch the world’s best women golfers, those who buy corporate suites, tickets or work as a volunteer also gain the opportunity to purchase 2027 PGA Championship tickets.
Other Participants and Their Stories
Joining Yang at PGA Frisco on Monday was Katelyn Sepmoree, PGA assistant professional at Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler.
Sepmoree qualified for the Women’s PGA, as one of 10 PGA/LPGA Professionals on the Corebridge Financial Team, by winning the February’s PGA Women’s Stroke Play title at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Sepmoree led Tyler Legacy to district championships in 2008 and 2009 and earned All-Big 12 honors at Texas, but her vocation is teaching golf and helping to manage operations at Willow Brook. She has been told that multiple busloads of supporters plan to come from Tyler.
Willow Brook head professional Chris Hudson is Sepmoree’s teacher.
“I work with great people that allow me to do both my job and practice at the same time,” Sepmoree said. “[Hudson] has said, ‘I want you to chase your dreams, and if that’s playing in major championships, let’s find a way to do that.’ I’m very blessed to be in a spot that nurtures that.”
Conclusion
Yang has won six LPGA titles, but her three-shot win in last year’s Women’s PGA at Sahalee Country Club was her first major championship — in her 75th start in a major.
She finished second in the 2012 and 2015 U.S. Women’s Opens and Sunday at Erin Hills tied for 36th. But there she was in Frisco on Monday, smiling as she and Sepmoree hit ceremonial tee shots from the Omni PGA Frisco Resort’s rooftop pool deck toward Fields East’s 9th green.
Being a major champion is tough work, but someone has to do it.
FAQs
Q: When and where is the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship taking place?
A: The tournament is taking place from June 19-22 at the PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch East Course in Frisco, Texas.
Q: Who is defending their title at the championship?
A: Amy Yang is defending her title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Q: How many players are participating in the Women’s PGA field?
A: There are 156 players participating in the Women’s PGA field.
Q: What other major tournaments will be played at Fields East in the future?
A: The PGA Championship will be played at Fields East in 2027 and 2034, and the Senior PGA Championship will return in 2029.
