An unprecedented stretch of women’s golf tournaments here in the great Garden State will close out in style next week when the historic Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield plays host to the 69th KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

The tournament – regarded as the most prestigious and second-oldest of five Ladies Professional Golf Association major championships – takes place June 21-25.

The event comes to the iconic and newly restored Lower Course at Baltusrol Golf Club for the first time, boasting a strong 156-player field that will include many of the world’s top players, such as No. 1-ranked Jin Young Ko, Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson, Lydia Ko, defending champion In Gee Chun, and young phenom Rose Zhang, who recently won her professional debut at the Mizuho Americas Open earlier this month at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City.

During Media Day June 12, officials touted the strong field, the rich history of the Women’s PGA Championship and the course.

“This is an exciting time for professional golf in New Jersey as the famous Lower Course at Baltusrol Golf Club will test the best players in the world when the PGA of America hosts the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship,” said Jackie Endsley, championship director, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. “We can’t think of a better setting for this Major Championship, and we expect golf fans in New Jersey will embrace the championship in a big way.”

The tournament will culminate what has been a memorable run over the last few weeks in New Jersey with other notable events including:

• Cognizant Founders Cup: May 10-14 at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton (won by Ko)
• Mizuho Americas Open: May 30-June 4 at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City (won by Zhang in her debut)
• ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer: June 7-11 at Seaview in Galloway Township (won by Ashleigh Buhai)

As NJBIZ has reported throughout the year, because of this stretch of top-notch tournaments, 2023 has been dubbed the “Year of Women’s Golf” in New Jersey.

“We are thrilled that N.J. will be the epicenter of women’s golf in 2023, allowing the LPGA, PGA of America and our sponsors to use our collective platform to inspire young girls and women throughout NJ and the surrounding Tri-state region,” said Mollie Marcoux Samaan, LPGA commissioner in January. “The combination of these four truly first-rate and meaningful events played at some of the best golf courses in the world in a major market provides a rare and exciting opportunity to not only elevate women’s golf but also elevate the conversation around women’s leadership and empowerment more broadly.”

“The PGA of America is especially proud to be a part of this important moment for women’s golf when we return to iconic Baltusrol Golf Club, the host of so many historical events, including the 2005 and 2016 PGA Championships, and showcase the world’s best women golfers in a Major Championship setting for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship,” said Seth Waugh, CEO, PGA of America, in January. “N.J. loves professional golf, and we are excited to be part of such a powerful lineup of women’s professional events across the Garden State in 2023.”