Danielle Kang

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Danielle Kang
2013 Women's British Open - Danielle Kang (1).jpg
Kang at the 2013 Women's British Open
Personal information
Full nameDanielle Grace Kang [1]
Born (1992-10-20) October 20, 1992 (age 32)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Sporting nationalityFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Residence Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Career
College Pepperdine University
(two years)
Turned professional2011
Current tour(s) LPGA Tour (joined 2012)
Professional wins6
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour6
Best results in LPGA major championships
(wins: 1)
Chevron Championship T6: 2019
Women's PGA C'ship Won: 2017
U.S. Women's Open 4th: 2018
Women's British Open T32: 2020
Evian Championship T18: 2017
Achievements and awards
LPGA Vare Trophy 2020

Danielle Grace Kang (born October 20, 1992) is an American professional golfer currently playing on the LPGA Tour. As an amateur, she won the U.S. Women's Amateur twice, in 2010 and 2011. She won the 2017 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, an LPGA major.

Contents

Early life, college and amateur career

Kang was born on October 20, 1992, in San Francisco. She grew up in Southern California, and qualified for the U.S. Women's Open as a 14-year-old in 2007. She began high school at Oak Park High School and later transferred to Westlake High School early to begin college at Pepperdine University in Malibu in the spring of 2010. Kang played extensively as a junior golfer with the Southern California PGA Junior Tour alongside fellow SCPGA alumni such as Lizette Salas and Brianna Do.

Kang played on the Pepperdine golf team through the regular season in the spring of 2011. She was ruled academically ineligible to compete in the 2011 NCAA post-season and stated that she was not disappointed because "Pepperdine is in the past for me. I'm focusing on the future. Turning pro after the U.S. Women's Amateur." [2] [3]

Kang won the U.S. Women's Amateur in 2010 and competed in all four majors as an amateur in 2011. She made the cut in three of the majors, including the LPGA Championship, where she was the only non-professional in the field. [4] Kang was the low amateur at the Women's British Open, finishing in a tie for 49th place. She repeated her win at the U.S. Women's Amateur in 2011 in August to become the first player in 15 years to win consecutive titles. [5]

Professional career

Kang played her first tournament as a professional at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, in September 2011. She entered on a sponsor's exemption and missed the cut. [6] Kang entered the 2011 LPGA Qualifying School. She survived Stage II, shooting +5 (73-74-71-75=293), just inside the cut line to qualify for the final stage. [7] She finished the final stage, Stage III, of Q-School tied for 39th. This gave her conditional status (Priority List Category 20) on the LPGA Tour for 2012 [8]

Kang played 19 events on the LPGA Tour in 2012, making 13 cuts and finishing the season with $239,184 in earnings, putting her 52nd on the official LPGA season-ending money list. This qualified her for full status on the LPGA Tour in 2013.

Kang earned her first LPGA Tour win, 2017 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, in her 144th LPGA Tour start. On October 21, 2018, Kang won the inaugural Buick LPGA Shanghai tournament by two strokes to earn her second career victory. The tournament was held at Qizhong Garden Golf Club in Shanghai, China. [9] In October 2019, Kang repeated as champion of the Buick LPGA Shanghai.

On August 2, 2020, Kang won the LPGA Drive On Championship at Inverness Club in Ohio. This was the LPGA's first tournament back after a six-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [10] One week later, Kang won her 5th LPGA Tour event at the Marathon Classic.

Kang won the 2020 Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour. [11]

On January 23, 2022, Kang won the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida. [12]

Kang narrowly missed a rare back-to-back wins starting a new LPGA season, when her longtime friend Lydia Ko beat her by one stroke in the January 27–30 Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio tournament. They were tied at 12-under after the 14th hole in the fourth round, when Ko made a birdie at the 15th to take the lead, and both birdied the 16th; then both parred the final two holes. [13] She earned $184,255 to Ko's $300,000.

Kang stopped playing on the tour after announcing at the end of the 2022 U.S. Women's Open on June 5, she had a tumor on her spine. She returned to competition at the CP Women's Open on August 25, after treatment. [14]

Personal life

Kang is a Korean-American born to South Korean parents K.S. Kang and Grace Lee. Her brother Alex played golf for San Diego State. [15] In 2018, she began a relationship with professional golfer Maverick McNealy, who also lives in Las Vegas, but this relationship ended in 2021. [16] [17]

Professional wins (6)

LPGA Tour wins (6)

Legend
LPGA Tour major championships (1)
Other LPGA Tour (5)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
1Jul 2, 2017 KPMG Women's PGA Championship −13 (69-66-68-68=271)1 stroke Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brooke Henderson
2Oct 21, 2018 Buick LPGA Shanghai −13 (67-68-71-69=275)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Marina Alex, Flag of the United States.svg Brittany Altomare
Flag of Thailand.svg Ariya Jutanugarn, Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Sei-young
Flag of New Zealand.svg Lydia Ko, Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Liu Wenbo
Flag of the United States.svg Annie Park
3Oct 20, 2019 Buick LPGA Shanghai (2)−16 (69-67-66-70=272)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Jessica Korda
4Aug 2, 2020 LPGA Drive On Championship −7 (66-73-70=209)1 stroke Flag of France.svg Céline Boutier
5Aug 9, 2020 Marathon Classic −15 (64-67-70-68=269)1 stroke Flag of England.svg Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Flag of New Zealand.svg Lydia Ko
6Jan 23, 2022 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions −16 (68-67-69-68=272)3 strokes Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brooke Henderson

LPGA Tour playoff record (0–3)

No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult
12019 BMW Ladies Championship Flag of South Korea.svg Jang Ha-na Lost to birdie on third extra hole
22021 Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions Flag of the United States.svg Jessica Korda Lost to birdie on first extra hole
32022 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Flag of Thailand.svg Atthaya Thitikul Lost to birdie on second extra hole

Major championships

Wins (1)

YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up
2017 Women's PGA Championship Tied for lead−13 (69-66-68-68=271)1 stroke Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brooke Henderson

Results timeline

Results not in chronological order.

! Tournament20072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Chevron Championship CUTCUTT61T26T26T47CUTT6T11
Women's PGA Championship T50CUTT22T25CUTT461T33T5T33
U.S. Women's Open CUT64T68T14CUTT59T47T17CUT4CUTT52
The Evian Championship ^T31CUTT59T30T18CUTCUTNT
Women's British Open T49CUTT42CUTT56CUTCUTCUTT41T32
! Tournament2021202220232024
Chevron Championship 13T17T28CUT
U.S. Women's Open T35T63CUTT51
Women's PGA Championship T5T39CUT
The Evian Championship CUT
Women's British Open CUTT69

^ The Evian Championship was added as a major in 2013.

  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
NT = no tournament
T = tied

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Chevron Championship 000014139
U.S. Women's Open 0001131611
Women's PGA Championship 1003351310
The Evian Championship 00000184
Women's British Open 000000126
Totals10045136240

LPGA Tour career summary

YearTournaments
played		Cuts
made*		Wins2nd3rdTop 10sBest
finish		Earnings
($)		Money
list rank		Scoring
average		Scoring
rank
2007 100000MCn/an/an/an/a
2011 530000T490n/an/an/a
2012 19130011T3239,1845272.3950
2013 24170001T5221,6495772.1854
2014 27210002T5316,2395172.4682
2015 26230001T5292,5796271.7244
2016 27230003T4505,3163671.1231
2017 2516110611,005,9831771.0542
2018 2515111811,135,4411170.8527
2019 21171311111,511,443970.0713
2020 131321151897,872470.084
2021 211901092902,2441869.8310
2022 1816121711,039,2392569.729
2023 20160013T3459,1546171.4773
2024 1990000T2082,04314373.52157
Totals^2912216965718,608,38639

^ Official as of 2024 season [18] [19] [20]
* Includes matchplay and other events without a cut.

World ranking

Position in Women's World Golf Rankings at the end of each calendar year.

YearRankingSource
2010404 [21]
2011341 [22]
2012106 [23]
201397 [24]
2014111 [25]
201598 [26]
201668 [27]
201721 [28]
201818 [29]
20194 [30]
20205 [31]
202111 [32]
202216 [33]
202348 [34]
2024263 [35]

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

Professional

Solheim Cup record

YearTotal
matches		Total
W–L–H		Singles
W–L–H		Foursomes
W–L–H		Fourballs
W–L–H		Points
won		Points
%
Career167–9–02–2–03–4–02–3–0743.8
2017 43–1–01–0–0 def. E. Pedersen 3&11–1–0 won w/ L. Salas 1 up,
lost w/ M. Wie 2&1		1–0–0 won w/ M. Wie 3&1375.0
2019 41–3–00–1–0 lost to C. Ciganda 1 up0–1–0 lost w/ M. Khang 4&31–1–0 lost w/ L. Salas 4&2,
won w/ L. Salas 2&1		125.0
2021 41–3–00–1–0 lost to E. Pedersen 1 dn1–1–0 lost w/ A. Ernst 1 dn
won w/ A. Ernst 1 up		0–1–0 lost w/ A. Ernst 3&2125.0
2023 42-2-01-0-0 def. C. Hull 4&21-1-0 won w/ A. Lee 1 up
lost w/ A. Lee 1 dn		0-1-0 lost w/ L. Vu 2&1250.0

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References

  1. ↑ California Birth Index
  2. ↑ Miller, Eli (May 2011). "Report: Kang will turn professional after 2011 U.S. Women's Amateur". Southland Golf Magazine. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  3. ↑ "5 things: Grades to keep Kang from postseason". Golfweek . May 4, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  4. ↑ "2011 Wegmans LPGA Championship" (PDF). LPGA. Retrieved June 5, 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. ↑ "Danielle Kang Defends Women's Amateur Title". USGA. August 14, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Yani Tseng putting together a special year". ESPN. September 12, 2011. Archived from the original on September 22, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  7. ↑ "LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage II Final Round Results". LPGA. September 30, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  8. ↑ "LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament: Final Results". LPGA. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  9. ↑ Levins, Keely (October 21, 2018). "Danielle Kang wins Buick LPGA Shanghai by two, her second career victory". Golf Digest. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Danielle Kang closes with 70 to win LPGA's return". ESPN. Associated Press. August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Danielle Kang Wins the 2020 Vare Trophy". LPGA. December 20, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Winless in '21, Kang starts new LPGA year with win". TSN.ca. Associated Press. January 23, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Lydia Ko outduels Danielle Kang for Gainbridge LPGA title". Golf Channel. Associated Press. January 30, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Danielle Kang Announces Return". LPGA. August 9, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Golf: Alex Kang". San Diego State athletics. Archived from the original on January 4, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Golf's newest power couple: LPGA's Kang, Web.com Tour's McNealy". Golf Channel. January 19, 2019.
  17. ↑ Dabbs, Ryan (August 13, 2021). "Who Is Danielle Kang's Boyfriend?". Golf Monthly. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Danielle Kang stats". LPGA. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Danielle Kang results". LPGA. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Career Money". LPGA. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". December 28, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". December 27, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". December 31, 2012.
  24. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". December 30, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". December 29, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". December 28, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". December 26, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". December 25, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". December 31, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". December 30, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". December 28, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". December 27, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". December 26, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". December 25, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". December 30, 2024.
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