In Gee Chun was an upbeat, smiling presence through the Women's PGA Championship — straightforward ample when you shoot 64 in the first round and direct comfortably for substantially of the match.

In the ultimate round, all of her optimistic contemplating was put to the exam.

"Golf is by no means uncomplicated," the 27-year-old South Korean mentioned.

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In Gee Chun, of South Korea, poses with the winners trophy immediately after winning the KPMG Women's PGA Championship golfing match at Congressional Place Club, Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Bethesda, Md.  (WHD Photo/Nick Wass)

Chun won her third key championship, actively playing her best in the initial spherical on a moist day and then persevering by way of a steamy weekend at Congressional. On Sunday, she immediately shed what was left of a after-sizeable lead, then rallied to get by one when Lexi Thompson's putting faltered down the extend.

Chun shot a 3-about 75 on every single of the final two times of the tournament. She finished at 5-below 283, scarcely plenty of to beat out Thompson (73) and Minjee Lee (70) by a stroke.

"Right before start out these days my coach instructed me, ‘In Gee, if you get pleasure from your video game, this trophy is yours,'" Chun said. "At times it’s genuinely tough to maintain smiling when my recreation, I imply, likely not superior, but I think I hung in there. So I’m so happy now."

The 27-calendar year-old Floridian botched a par putt from a pair ft on No. 14, but a birdie on 15 restored her direct to two. Then she bogeyed the par-5 16th whilst Chun made birdie, leaving the two players tied with two holes remaining.

Thompson, who declined a put up-round news convention, a few-putted for bogey on 17. Immediately after an amazing technique from the rough on 18, her birdie putt wasn't hit firmly plenty of.

Chun's approach on the par-4 18th bounced earlier the gap and just off the again of the green, but she putted to inside of about 5 toes and sank her par try for the gain.

In Gee Chun, of South Korea, remaining, hugs Lexi Thompson following Chun won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship golf tournament at Congressional Region Club, Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Bethesda, Md.  (WHD Image/Nick Wass)

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It was Chun's 1st victory anywhere in the environment due to the fact 2018 and only her second in the United States — her 1st was the 2015 U.S. Open. She received her 2nd important the adhering to year at the Evian Championship in France.

Now, Chun is the 3rd participant from South Korea to acquire at least three majors, trailing Inbee Park (7) and Se Ri Pak (5).

Chun led by seven strokes soon after finishing her 8-below 64 in soaked situations Thursday. The lead was down to 5 at the finish of that day — nevertheless equaling the biggest 18-gap advantage in the record of women’s majors.

That amazing beginning gave her some room for mistake — and also established her up for a most likely grueling weekend of substantial-stress golfing. She was even now six strokes in advance entering Saturday, but the guide was down to 3 following 3 rounds.

"The initially working day, she was definitely fired up mainly because of the 64," caddie Dean Herden mentioned. "It can be hard to relaxed down immediately after a 64 simply because you happen to be pumped."

Thompson hasn’t won an LPGA Tour occasion given that 2019, and her lone significant victory arrived as a teenager at Mission Hills in the California desert in 2014. She’s undoubtedly experienced prospects. She misplaced a 5-stroke guide during the final spherical of very last year’s U.S. Women’s Open at Olympic Club.

At Congressional she was 10 strokes back after the to start with round prior to steadily chasing down Chun. Thompson made birdies on Nos. 1 and 3 on Sunday. Chun bogeyed Nos. 2 and 4 to tumble at the rear of.

Thompson missed small birdie putts on the eighth and ninth — foreshadowing her difficulties afterwards in the spherical — but Chun’s 40 on the front nine still left her two back again at the switch. Sei Young Kim, who had built it to 6 under at just one level, bogeyed Nos. 8, 10, 11 and 12 and wasn’t a issue following that.

When Chun manufactured her initial birdie of the day at the par-5 11th, Thompson answered with a birdie of her very own to continue to be two shots ahead at 7 below. When Thompson bogeyed No. 12, so did Chun.

In Gee Chun, of South Korea, kisses the winners trophy, following successful the KPMG Women's PGA Championship golfing match at Congressional Country Club, Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Bethesda, Md.  (WHD Photograph/Terrance Williams)

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The 16th gap, in which Chun took an unplayable lie and a double bogey the earlier day, was the turning position in her favor in the final spherical. Thompson was just limited and correct of the environmentally friendly in two pictures but took four from there to make bogey, while Chun rolled in her birdie putt after a very long wait around.

Lee, who trailed by 6 at the start of the day, just skipped an eagle putt on No. 16 that could have tied her for the lead. When Thompson birdied the 15th and Lee bogeyed the 17th, the Australian was three at the rear of.

A terrific solution on the closing hole gave Lee a short birdie putt, but just after building that, she continue to required Thompson to fall two much more strokes.

That basically occurred, but Chun’s birdie and two pars on the final three holes have been more than enough to earn.

"I hardly ever genuinely felt as well out of it just after turning at even par following nine," stated Lee, this year's U.S. Women's Open up champ. "I believed if I can make one or two birdies coming in, then I may well have a opportunity."

Chun has spoken in the previous about battling despair, and she turned psychological after this victory when discussing a the latest conversation she had with her sister.

"I really cried. I explained, ‘I’m genuinely tricky to stay in the U.S.,’" Chun claimed. "She explained, ‘In Gee, just stop golf. You’re the significant thing.’ ... When I read what she explained, I do not want to -- I didn’t want to give up the golf. Then I believe I still have a spirit, and I saw, In Gee, you nonetheless want to perform golf."

In Gee Chun, of South Korea, wipes her eyes as she prepares for her caddy's hug immediately after profitable the KPMG Women's PGA Championship golfing event at Congressional Place Club, Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Bethesda, Md. (WHD Photograph/Terrance Williams)

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"So I am striving to really really hard this 7 days," she additional. "I’m just so pleased to make earn immediately after all that took place."

NOTES: Chun received $1.35 million just after the prize income for this party was doubled. ... Defending champion Nelly Korda (75) concluded tied for 30th.