In Gee Chun perseveres, holds off Lexi Thompson to win Women's PGA Championship

BETHESDA, Md. — In Gee Chun rallied after losing the rest of her once-sizeable 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 6 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 Thompson's putting problems were just beginning.

The 27-year-old Floridian botched a par putt from a couple 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 3-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 for the win.

Chun, a 27-year-old from South Korea, led by 7 strokes after finishing her 8-under 64 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-shot 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.

Thompson hasn't won an LPGA Tour event since 2019, and her lone major victory came as a teenager at Mission Hills in the