In the sweltering heat of Frisco, Texas, the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship kicked off with a mix of impressive performances and simmering tensions surrounding slow play on the LPGA Tour. As the tournament unfolded at the Field Ranch East course, star players like Yealimi Noh and Lexi Thompson battled not only the course but also a grueling six-hour round that tested their endurance and mental fortitude.
Thursday’s opening round saw a staggering four groups queued up on the eighth tee, causing significant delays and prompting frustration both on and off the course. Lexi Thompson, one of the marquee names in the field, described the experience as "pretty brutal," revealing how she coped with the prolonged wait. "I just drank a lot of water and tried to stay loose when we were in those waits on those holes and stay mentally in it," she said, highlighting the challenge of maintaining focus amid the relentless Texas heat.
The bottleneck was largely due to the course’s tricky layout, featuring a short par-4 seventh hole measuring 317 yards that tempted players to get as close as possible to the pin, a challenging par-3 eighth with an unfriendly hole location, and a reachable par-5 finishing hole. These factors combined to create a backlog that stretched the round to nearly six hours for some groups.
Despite these difficulties, Yealimi Noh and Lexi Thompson finished strong, both birdying two of their last three holes. Noh carded a 2-under 70, placing her just two strokes behind the leader Jeeno Thitikul, who impressed with a morning 68 marked by an exceptional putting display. Thompson, meanwhile, shot an even-par 72, tying for 16th place alongside world No. 1 Nelly Korda and rising star Rose Zhang. Notably, 15 players broke par in the opening round, underscoring the high level of competition.
Thompson’s performance at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship marked her seventh start of the season. She came into the event on the back of a strong showing at the Meijer LPGA Classic, where she tied for fourth, narrowly missing out on a title due to two late bogeys. Her recent form signals a resurgence for the 30-year-old American, who has posted top-10 finishes in two of the last three editions of this major and remains a serious contender despite no longer playing full-time on the LPGA Tour.
As the tournament progressed into Friday’s second round, Thompson was seen hitting a tee shot on the sixth hole, continuing her campaign amidst extreme heat warnings for the region. Temperatures were expected to soar between 100 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit, creating hazardous conditions that demanded players stay hydrated and alert.
Meanwhile, the battle for major glory intensified between Jeeno Thitikul and world No. 1 Nelly Korda. Korda, a former winner of this event and the current world No. 1, arrived at PGA Frisco still searching for her first LPGA Tour victory of the 2025 season. Despite a stellar 2024 season where she claimed seven wins, including five consecutive victories, Korda has yet to clinch a title this year. Her consistent performances, however, have kept her near the top of the leaderboard, including a runner-up finish at last month’s U.S. Women’s Open.
Thitikul, leading the LPGA Tour’s order of merit, has had a remarkable season with multiple victories on both the LPGA and Ladies European Tours. The 22-year-old Thai player, who finished fourth at this event in 2022, is among the favorites to claim her maiden major title, having demonstrated strong form despite some recent setbacks in other majors.
Adding to the competitive mix are European players like Charley Hull, who finished runner-up in two majors in 2023 and has consistently placed in the top 20 in recent major starts. Hull, however, was involved in a social media storm during the tournament due to slow play controversies, particularly surrounding her group with Thompson and Nelly Korda.
The issue of slow play has become a hot-button topic on the LPGA Tour, with some groups taking nearly six hours to complete rounds, sparking outrage among players, fans, and commentators. Despite new policies aimed at speeding up play, the problem persists, as evidenced by the delays during the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Thompson, who was previously embroiled in a similar controversy at the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open, firmly defended herself against accusations of contributing to slow play. She emphasized that her group was frequently waiting on every hole and was never out of position or warned about their pace. "It was just like wait, wait, wait," Thompson remarked, urging critics to consider the full context rather than passing judgment based on snippets.
Golf writer Beth Ann Nichols also voiced her frustration with the slow pace, reflecting a broader call within the golf community for stricter enforcement and possible implementation of shot clocks to maintain the integrity and flow of the game. Players like Charley Hull have advocated for harsher penalties, including the potential loss of tour cards for repeated slow play offenses, signaling a growing urgency to address this systemic issue.
As the tournament continues, the spotlight remains on the players’ ability to manage both the physical demands of extreme heat and the mental challenges posed by slow play. The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship not only tests golfing skill but also resilience and adaptability, qualities that will be critical as the field battles for major glory.
With Sky Sports providing extensive live coverage throughout the week, fans worldwide are closely following the unfolding drama at PGA Frisco. The championship promises to deliver thrilling moments, intense rivalries, and possibly a changing of the guard in women’s golf, as emerging stars like Jeeno Thitikul challenge established leaders such as Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson.
The opening round set the stage for what could be a historic tournament, blending fierce competition with the pressing need for reforms in pace of play. As players prepare for the weekend rounds under the watchful eyes of fans and critics alike, the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship encapsulates the excitement and challenges of modern professional golf.
