KPMG Women’s PGA Championship 2025 Betting Tips: Six golfers to back each-way

The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship starts on Thursday over at the Sahalee Country Club in Washington. A purse of $10,400,000 is available to the players with everyone looking to follow in the footsteps of Mao Saigo and Maja Stark - who have won the first two majors of the year.

Star LPGA golf tipster Jamie Worsley is here with his in-depth preview as usual here at Betfred Insights and he has picked out six players to consider backing. Check out who and why below as we have a look at his KPMG Women's PGA Championship 2025 Betting Tips....

*You can bet on the event and check out all the latest KPMG Women's PGA Championship 2025 Odds over at betfred.com

Europe will soon take centre stage in the golfing world, with the two final women's majors of the season: the Evian Championship at the Evian Resort (Jul 10 – 13) and the Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club (Jul 31 – Aug 3). 

However, first it's time for the last major championship on US soil this year, as we head to Texas and PGA Frisco for the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. 

TOURNAMENT HISTORY 

The KPMG Women's PGA Championship debuted in 1955 – as the LPGA Championship – and is the second-oldest of the five majors currently in existence in the women's game. 

Mickey Wright is the most successful player in the history of the event, having won it four times – in 1958, 1960, 1961 and 1963 – accounting for four of her 13 major victories. She is closely followed by a group of six three-time winners: Kathy Whitworth (1967, 1971, 1975), Nancy Lopez (1978, 1985, 1989), Patty Sheehan (1983, 1984, 1993), Annika Sorenstam (2003, 2004, 2005), Se Ri Pak (1998, 2002, 2006) and Inbee Park (2013, 2014, 2015). 

Sorenstam and Park's three consecutive wins puts them on an exclusive list of just three players to achieve the feat. The third woman in the group is Patty Berg, who won the now-defunct Titleholders Championship in 1937, 1938 and 1939. 

Last five winners: 

• 2024 (Sahalee Country Club) 

Winner: Amy Yang (-7) 

Runners-up: Lilia Vu, Jin Young Ko, Miyu Yamashita (-4) 

• 2023 (Baltusrol Golf Club) 

Winner: Ruoning Yin (-8) 

Runner-up: Yuka Saso (-7) 

• 2022 (Congressional Country Club) 

Winner: In Gee Chun (-5) 

Runners-up: Lexi Thompson, Minjee Lee (-4) 

• 2021 (Atlanta Athletic Club) 

Winner: Nelly Korda (-19) 

Runner-up: Lizette Salas (-16) 

• 2020 (Aronimink Golf Club) 

Winner: Sei Young Kim (-14) 

Runner-up: Inbee Park (-9) 

Amy Yang won the 2024 edition at Sahalee Country Club for her first major success. The Korean joined the lead in round two and built up a two-shot lead entering the final round, before eventually winning cosily by three shots. She returns to defend, looking to be come the first back-to-back winner since Inbee Park won the third of her titles in 2015. 

THE COURSE 

The KPMG Women's PGA Championship moves around each year and will be held at PGA Frisco's Fields Ranch East Course for the first time.  

The course – designed by renovator-extraordinaire Gil Hanse – only opened in 2023, and the complex at which it is based became the headquarters of the PGA of America that same year. It has already hosted the Senior PGA Championship – also in 2023 – and is pencilled in to stage this event for a second time in 2031, as well as the 2027 and 2034 editions of the men's PGA Championship. 

This par 72 measures 6604yds. Holes No. 9 and No. 18 are switched for the event, meaning three of the par 5s arrive on the front nine. It possesses 4x par 3s (123-185yds), 10x par 4s (316-456yds) and 4x par 5s (484-526yds). 

Built on naturally undulating terrain and featuring moderate changes in elevation, PGA Frisco's East Course is predominantly open and exposed, blending seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. Striking and large rough-hewn bunkers frame most holes, and Panther Creek meanders its way throughout the property. 

The sloping fairways cause many an uneven lie and are extremely wide, though they should be approached with a level of strategy. Players will need to position the ball smartly to give themselves the best chance to attack the greens, whilst there are also several cross bunkers and central hazards that can be taken on to leave a shorter approach. Aggressively strategic bunkering offers protection, as do danger-strewn dry washes, and there are some unpleasant lies in native grasses awaiting those most wayward. 

The bermudagrass greens are large and well contoured. These raised surfaces sit high above the heavily sloped greenside surrounds, with false edges sending the ball tumbling from the greens via steep run-offs into tightly-mown chipping areas, and deep, penal bunkers. 

PGA Frisco's East Course is a fun risk/reward test, packed with variety. Each of the four par 5s are reachable in two for most in the field, and there are also two potentially drivable par 4s – the 317yd 7th and the 316yd 15th. However, each of those holes are bordered by two of the longest and toughest par 4s on the course – the 442yd 6th and the 456yd 16th – and with the exposed nature of the layout, it could be a severe challenge if wind arrives. 

THE WEATHER 

The weather is forecast to be bright, warm and breezy in Frisco this week, which should help firm this course up and make it a real test.  

It is predicted to be sunny, with temperatures in the mid-30s Celsius each day. Although a little calmer on Thursday, constant wind speeds of 12–14mph in the following days – with gusts up to 25mph – will certainly make things interesting. 

KEY STATS 

• SG: Approach/Greens-in-Regulation 

• SG: Around-the-Greens 

• Driving Distance 

• SG: Putting (bermudagrass) 

It's always tricky trying to work out what to expect of a new course. That said, I do believe iron play will be of biggest consequence this week – both to create the greater scoring opportunities, and in avoiding the most challenging aspect of play here: the greenside surrounds. 

However, windy conditions will almost certainly result in lower greens-in-regulation percentages, and I'd want to be on players who rank high in SG: Around-the-Greens. 

If we're looking for the perfect profile, distance is likely to be an advantage. The fairways are wide, and there are several holes where only those with power will be able to take on the hazards, to create the better birdie chances. Meanwhile, a proven ability to putt bermudagrass greens is sure to be a positive. 

CORRELATING EVENTS 

This is quite a unique challenge compared to many courses used on the LPGA, therefore I'm going to keep the correlating events light this week. 

I do think this year's US Women's Open host Erin Hills could be the best guide. Once again, we're dealing with an exposed, rugged course featuring wide, sloping fairways, large, undulating greens, and heavy bunkering. Additionally, the elevated putting surfaces are surrounded by tightly-mown chipping areas and scattered with run-offs. 

Sticking with the US Women's Open, and the leaderboard from the 2022 edition at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club may be worth checking out. Although tree-lined, the authentic course features generous, undulating fairways, strategic bunkering and heavily contoured bermudagrass green complexes. 

I'm going to stay in Texas for two more events: the Chevron Championship at Carlton Woods and the host of the 2018-2023 editions of The Ascendant LPGA, Old American Golf Club. Carlton Woods has generous fairways and large, undulating bermudagrass greens, and Old American Golf Club is a similarly exposed venue with over 120 bunkers, wide fairways and is covered in bermudagrass. 

TOURNAMENT TRENDS 

• Eight of the last 10 winners had previously recorded a top-25 finish in the event.  

• Nine of the previous 10 winners had finished inside the top 25 in a major; six of those possessed a top-three finish. 

• Of the players to win the Women's PGA since 2015, eight already held an LPGA victory. 

• Form in the calendar year hasn't been overly important, with just four of the last 10 winners arriving at this event with a win to their name that year. 

• Eight of the last 10 champions had a top-25 finish across their previous three tournaments.  

• Only one player came into the event off the back of a top-10 finish on their latest start. 

THE FIELD 

Our third women's major of the season has brought together 47 of the world's top 50. Nelly Korda arrives as the top-ranked player in the world, closely followed by No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul and No. 3 Lydia Ko. 

Amy Yang is the defending champion and is one of 12 former winners in attendance. She is joined by Ruoning Yin (2023), In Gee Chun (2022), Nelly Korda (2021), Sei Young Kim (2020), Hannah Green (2019), Sung Hyun Park (2018), Danielle Kang (2017), Brooke Henderson (2016), Yani Tseng (2011, 2008), Cristie Kerr (2010) and Anna Nordqvist (2009). 

This is a very LPGA-heavy major, and there are few players from outside the tour in the field. We do have the leading player on the Ladies European Tour (LET) last year, Chiara Tamburlini. Meanwhile, two sponsors invites were extended to two-time Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis, and this year's breakout star on the LET, Mimi Rhodes, who has recorded three wins in 2025. 

SELECTIONS 

Market leaders (1/5 7 places): Nelly Korda 9/1, Jeeno Thitikul 10/1, Ruoning Yin 16/1, Haeran Ryu 20/1, Hye Jin Choi 22/1, Minjee Lee 22/1 

Lydia Ko 

Lydia Ko is chasing the Career Grand Slam – a title the LPGA bestows on players who win four of the five majors. On a course where she will have ample room to work her brilliance in approach and around the greens, I believe she has a fabulous chance of achieving this incredible feat this week.  

The New Zealander has done little wrong this season, yet she arrives here as the eighth-favourite, representing excellent value. She hasn't missed a cut and won on her third start of the year in the HSBC Women's World Championship, and when we last saw her, she finished 26th in the US Women's Open. 

Her scintillating short game has again been key, ranking 4th around-the-greens and 11th in putting. She's also a strong 35th in approach and encouragingly, she is driving the ball much straighter this season.  

Ko is a three-time major winner, claiming the Evian Championship (2015) and Chevron Championship (2016) in two consecutive years, before winning a first major in eight years at St Andrews in last year's Women's Open. That is a course where her creativity came to the fore and with this week's layout potentially requiring some of that same excellence with wedge in hand, she has every chance of walking away with a fourth different major this week. 

Rio Takeda 

Rio Takeda has become a two-time LPGA winner in the space of just seven months, and she came close to earning a major breakthrough three weeks ago, finishing 2nd at Erin Hills in the US Women's Open. PGA Frisco looks a suitable course for her to go one better this week. 

Takeda earned her place on the LPGA after winning the TOTO Japan Classic at the end of 2024. She doubled her tally at the Blue Bay LPGA in China at the beginning of this year, and has continued to thrive since heading stateside, recording top-10 finishes in the Mizuho Americas Open and Black Desert Championship, before finishing 2nd in the US Women's Open. 

She ranks as the third-best tee-to-green player on tour this season and especially excels with her irons, ranking 2nd in greens-in-regulation and 5th in approach. Sitting 30th in driving distance, she possesses the power to attack this course and is also sharp around-the-greens, ranking 44th. 

Takeda has finished inside the top 10 on each of her US Women's Open appearances, and that runner-up finish at Erin Hills should act as a great pointer. I feel it won't take long for her to break through in these biggest events and this week presents her with another good opportunity to do so. 

Yealimi Noh 

Yealimi Noh is enjoying the best season of her career. This superb tee-to-green player can cap it all off by becoming a first-time major champion this week. 

Noh was in fine form at the end of last year, but still that maiden LPGA victory eluded her. She put that right at the beginning of this year, winning the Founders Cup on her first start and has maintained form, finishing inside the top 20 in six of her last nine events – including a 14th-place finish in the US Women's Open at Erin Hills.   

Her tee-to-green game is excellent – ranking 4th – and exceptionally well balanced, ranking 16th each in approach, around-the-greens and off-the-tee. She hits more greens than most, ranking 4th and at 42nd in driving distance, she is not short on power. 

Noh recorded a best Women's PGA finish of 15th in 2021 and has hit the top 10 in two alternate majors, finishing 3rd in 2021 Evian Championship and 9th in last year's Chevron Championship. Furthermore, here runner-up finish at The Ascendant LPGA in 2020 looks a handy piece of comp form. 

Chisato Iwai 

Japan's Iwai twins have both made a serious impression in their rookie LPGA seasons. While I considered each player this week, it's winner and stronger short-game performer, Chisato, who appears the greater value. 

After some solid displays in the earlier part of the season, Iwai claimed an emphatic breakthrough victory in the Riviera Maya Open four starts ago, beating Jenny Bae into 2nd by six strokes. In addition, she's performed well in the first two majors, finishing 22nd in the US Women's Open and 30th in the Chevron Championship. 

She's a top tee-to-green performer, ranking 20th, and particularly excels off-the-tee, combining power with accuracy to rank 27th. She's also sound with her irons, ranking 36th in GIR and 47th in approach, whilst her touch around-the-greens – ranking 36th – will be important this week. 

Iwai did miss the cut on her Women's PGA Championship debut last year, but she has made the weekend on each of her three US Women's Open starts, recording two top-25s. She's part of a hugely impressive crop of young Japanese players on the tour right now and can follow countrywoman, Mao Saigo in becoming a major champion. 

Patty Tavatanakit 

I put Patty Tavatanakit up in the US Women's Open, where she disappointed with a missed cut. However, she bounced back on her next start in the Shoprite Classic and looking ideally suited to this test, she is well worth chancing at a huge three-figure price this week. 

Patty has achieved six top-25 finishes in her 10 starts this season, going best when 4th in the Honda LPGA Thailand. She has disappointed in the first two majors but arrives here with two top-15 finishes in her last three starts, showing that her game remains in a positive place. 

The Thai star has been strong from tee-to-green, ranking 27th and has especially shone with her short game, ranking 21st around-the-greens. As a big-hitter whose irons are perfectly sound, her game looks in the right place to handle the demands of PGA Frisco. 

Tavatanakit broke her major duck in 2021 by winning the Chevron Championship and has recorded top-seven finishes in each of the other four. Her best in this event came back in 2021 at Atlanta Athletic Club, where she finished 5th. She has a great opportunity to improve on that here. 

Gabriela Ruffels 

As a former No. 5 amateur and winner of the Women's US Amateur, Gabriela Ruffels has plenty of pedigree. She's been playing some promising golf this season from tee-to-green, and after appearing to have found form on the greens on her latest start, she can cause a stir at the top of the leaderboard this week. 

Ruffels has recorded her two best results of the season over her last three starts, finishing 21st in the Riviera Maya Open, and 14th in the Meijer LPGA Classic at Blythefield Country Club.  

I was particularly taken with her putting there, ranking 14th, as it's an area in which she ranks 158th overall on tour this season. I'm hoping she'll be able to continue that improvement this week, and if combined with the quality she's shown around-the-greens and in approach, ranking 12th and 40th in each of those areas respectively, she should take to this layout. 

Plenty was expected of Ruffels when she turned pro in 2021 and she realised some of her potential on the Epson Tour in 2023, picking up three wins; though as yet, she's been unable to transfer that to the LPGA. Encouragingly, she is a consistent major performer, making the cut in 13 of her 16 starts – including in each of her three Women's PGA Championship appearances – and has hit the top 25 in all bar the Evian Championship. 

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