BETHESDA, Md. — In Gee Chun rallied after losing the rest of her once-sizable lead, overcoming a bogey-filled front nine to win the Women’s PGA Championship on Sunday when Lexi Thompson faltered with her putter.
Chun shot a 3-over 75 for the second consecutive day at Congressional, but that was enough to win her third major title by a stroke over Thompson and Minjee Lee. Chun, after leading by six at the tournament’s midway point, lost a 3-shot advantage in the first three holes of the final round. Thompson was 2 strokes ahead of her after the front nine, but her putting problems were just beginning.
Thompson, 27, botched a par putt from a couple of feet on No. 14, but a birdie on 15 restored her lead to 2. Then she bogeyed the par-5 16th while Chun made birdie, leaving the two players tied with two holes remaining.
Thompson three-putted for bogey on 17, and after an impressive approach from the rough on 18, her birdie putt wasn’t hit firmly enough.
Chun’s approach on the par-4 18th bounced past the hole and just off the back of the green, but she putted to within about 5 feet and sank her par attempt to win the tournament.
Chun, 27, of South Korea, led by 7 strokes after finishing her first round in wet conditions Thursday. The lead was down to 5 at the end of that day — still equaling the largest 18-hole advantage in the history of women’s majors.
She was 6 strokes ahead at the halfway point and had a 3-stroke advantage coming into Sunday. She finished at 5-under 283.
Chun won her first major at the U.S. Women’s Open in 2015 and added the Evian Championship in France the following year.