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June 27, 2026 | Edition #324

👋 {{readername | Hey, golf fans}},

Two rounds into the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Ina Yoon has stretched her lead to five strokes, a tournament record. Whether she’ll close the deal for her first major and first LPGA title is hard to guess because a strong group of contenders lurks close behind. We also dig into Bryson DeChambeau’s candid take on his major struggles, share practical tips for tackling Hazeltine, and other news worth your morning reading time.

Let’s tee it up…


Will Yoon win her first this weekend?

How can the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship be a major and not produce memorable moments? First, Amanda Doherty (+3/MC) made a hole-in-one on the 17th in R1. Then, Shannon Tan (E/T43) one-upped that. The youngster made her first hole-in-one in R2 with a 6-iron on the fourth.

Both Doherty’s and Tan’s aces mark the first time the event has seen multiple holes-in-one since 2018. Meanwhile, Ina Yoon (‑12) sits five strokes clear of the field with the biggest 36-hole cushion at this tournament since Cristie Kerr (2010). She is also only the fourth player ever to hold a five-plus stroke advantage through 36 holes.

A Lim Kim (‑7) shares second place with past champion Brooke Henderson, Hae Ran Ryu, and Nasa Hataoka. Nelly Korda (T6/-6) lurks not far behind. A victory here would earn Korda the remaining points she needs for LPGA Hall of Fame induction. But she’ll have to nibble away at Yoon’s lead over the weekend.

One stroke back, Karis Davidson (‑5/T8), who has the third-longest made-cut streak on the LPGA Tour (15), is still chasing that elusive first win. But the biggest test is for Yoon, who is seeking her first LPGA title.

  • The 36-hole scoring average (73.098) is the third-lowest over the past 35 years.

  • It’s also the lowest for this major since 2008 (Bulle Rock in Maryland).

  • Yoon’s 12-under is the lowest 36-hole score in tournament history.

Sources for stats: Elias Sports Bureau and Justin Ray.


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Bryson breaks down what went wrong.

Bryson DeChambeau has been the butt of jokes for the last couple of months. Still, very few players would be so willing to perform an autopsy of his major performance on YouTube. That’s what Bryson did in a new video titled, as you’d have likely guessed, “I’ve missed 3 straight cuts... let’s talk about it.” We watched the whole video so you don’t have to.

So where does Bryson stand? He has never missed cuts in all four majors of a season. He also has only the Open Championship—the major that left him red-faced the most times—to avoid that unsavory record.

In Your Opinion, Is Bryson DeChambeau Still One of the Top-Ten Golfers in the World?

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Last Poll Result: 78.17% of you believe Nelly Korda can win the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship this week. Read what your fellow readers believe.

13th isn’t an easy hole, but you can still make it.

Hazeltine is notoriously demanding, but the par-3 13th is more than the others. It played as the fifth-toughest hole yesterday. A pond lurks on the left, trees guard the right, and bunkers shield the front and right of the green. You’ll see plenty of pros in trouble, but here is how they are attempting the recovery shot.

  • Deep rough: Open clubface. Choking down slightly. Then, practice swings on the rough that produce a clear “thump” sound. That’s important—it’s a sign that the club is digging deep enough under the ball.

  • Fringe: From 80 to 90 feet out on the right, pros use a low-lofted 50° wedge. Handle higher. Toe down. Standing closer to the ball and making a glorified putting motion for a bump-and-run, as Titleist staff member Joanna Coe shows here.

  • Greenside bunker: Wide stance with the ball slightly forward. Leaning onto the front foot. Then, striking the sand just behind the ball to make it pop out of the bunker.


A much-awaited collab?

Last November, Good Good rolled out a girls-only channel, Good Good Girls, featuring Marissa Wenzler, Yoonhee Kim, Hadley Walts, and Alexis Miestowski. Each woman arrives with serious golf chops, with Kim playing professionally on the Epson Tour (the feeder tour of the LPGA). Wenzler, on the other hand, made two aces at Shinnecock Hills in a span of 30 days! Yeah, watch it here.

Recently Paige Spiranac collaborated with the girls for a fun four-person scramble. Other than some great shots, Spiranac also asked Kim how she is managing pro golf and content creation. Listen to her honest answer here. While it has been difficult, Kim clearly hasn't lost her chops. Just look at the tracer on her tee shot and you’ll see what we mean.


You've watched the tournaments. You've followed the drama. Now it's time for the ultimate test. Choose between two quiz formats:

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This is your chance to prove that all those hours spent watching golf, reading golf, and talking about golf weren't purely recreational.


Thank you for reading this edition of Essentially Golf.

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