Women's PGA Championship 2017: Danielle Kang Birdies 18 to Win 1st-Ever Major

Danielle Kang entered this week having never finished better than 14th in a major championship. She'll leave the 2017 Women's PGA Championship as a winner.

Kang shot a three-under 68 on Sunday to finish at 13 under overall and one stroke ahead of second place Brooke Henderson to win the LPGA's second major of 2017. She birdied the 72nd hole of the tournament after bogeying No. 17, which briefly put her in a tie with Henderson. The Golf Channel shared a replay: 

Chella Choi finished alone in third place at 10 under, while Mi Hyang Lee, Amy Yang and Sei Young Kim rounded out the top six at nine under. Lexi Thompson (-7, T-7) was the next highest-finishing player behind Kang from the United States.

Kang, 24, shot four consecutive under-par rounds at Olympia Fields Country Club in Illinois. Her Sunday 68 was her second straight of the weekend. She began her final round with a rough stretch that seemingly put her chances of winning the tournament in jeopardy. After birdieing No. 2 and bogeying No. 3, she ran off six straight pars to make the turn at even par.

A bogey on No. 10 put her at one over for the day, opening the door for Henderson, Choi and others. Then Kang kicked it into high gear with a stretch of holes that ultimately won her the tournament. The San Francisco native reeled off four straight beautiful birdies on Nos. 11-14, all of which were par fours.

She came back to Henderson on the leaderboard briefly with a bogey on the par-three 17th, but Olympia Fields is set up for birdies at the 18th. After getting on the green in two and narrowly missing an eagle putt, Kang tapped in for birdie on the final hole and earned her first major.

Henderson, who at 19 is quickly becoming one of the LPGA's most formidable golfers, shot a five-under 66 to nearly force a playoff. The Canadian had five birdies, including a pair on her final two holes, and did not bogey during her final round.

Henderson won last year's Women's PGA Championship in a playoff over Lydia Ko.

"I kind of had a mix of really good putts that had a chance to go in, and some that maybe I would have liked to give a better opportunity for," Henderson said, per the Associated Press (via Los Angeles Times).

So Yeon Ryu shot a one-over par 72 to finish in a tie for 14th.

2017 Women's PGA Championship Leaderboard

1. Danielle Kang (-13)

2. Brooke Henderson (-12)

3. Chella Choi (-10)

T-4. Mi Hyang Lee (-9)

T-4. Amy Yang (-9)

T-4. Sei Young Kim (-9)