These Big Names Aren't Seeing the Weekend at KPMG

If there was any question about the difficulty of Fields Ranch East and how it would hold up as a major venue, I guess we have our answer. Less than 10 players are in the red numbers after the first two rounds of the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

On Friday, only two holes averaged under par at Fields Ranch East. Second-round scoring average of 76.012, making it the second-highest at an LPGA major in a decade. Adding salt to the wound, rounds are playing well over six hours so these players are being put to the ultimate test.

Jeeno Thitikul leads the way at 6-under par after rounds of 68-70, sitting with a three shot lead over Minjee Lee and Rio Takeda. Lexi Thompson finds herself in the mix at yet another Texas-based major, sitting just four shots back.

It feels like we're in for Oakmont levels of carnage heading into the weekend as temperatures continue to soar over 90 degrees and winds gusting. The set up of Fields Ranch East got the best of some of the world's best and many are heading home after 36, including the defending champ.

RELATED: How to Watch the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship

Big Names Who Missed the Cut at the KPMG Women's PGA

Amy Yang (76-77, 9-over)

Her shot at defending the title is over, it was a tough couple of days for the 35 year old who has made a home in Dallas.

Stacy Lewis (78-76, 10-over)

The two-time major winner was rather critical of the course set up this week, making the case that the course was playing too hard, and making the players look silly, stating after her round, "The issue of this all too is, make us look good,” she continued. “We’re trying to get more people to watch women’s golf, and to watch us play golf, and setups like this, they don’t help us.

And this is when we have our biggest stages, network TV and all of that, and we’re making very good players look silly."

Alexa Pano (78-85, 19-over)

I've been following the 20 year old a ton this season, walking inside the ropes with her at Mizuho last month. She's clearly got the game and has for a long time, this just wasn't her week. And being from the northeast, we'll blame it on the heat.

Danielle Kang (80-77, 13-over)

This was the first major appearance of the season for the 2017 KPMG champion. It's been a tough few seasons for DK, but she's just one of those players you always want to root for.

Mao Saigo (73-80, 9-over)

After seeing her at Erin Hills, there's only one word to describe Mao Saigo—surgical. She's so precise to this was shocking to see for the 2025 Chevron Champion.

Lauren Coughlin (80-77, 13-over)

My fellow Virginian has hit a slump. This is her third consecutive missed cut, but she proved last year that the late summer is her time to shine. She won twice in three starts last summer, beginning in late July. I'm keeping the faith.

Celine Boutier (76-79, 11-over)

After her top-5 last week in Michigan I liked Celine Boutier's odds heading into the week, but it's hard to make predictions in golf. The past is the past, and I'm sure the French-woman is already looking ahead to Evian, where she won in 2023.

Lilia Vu (77-76, 9-over)

The struggle continues for the former No. 1 who shot 77-76 to miss her fourth consecutive cut.

Linn Grant (77-75, 8-over)

I had such high hopes for the Swede, especially after the U.S. Women's Open, but she's also had a rather tumultuous season missing six cuts in 11 starts.

Yani Tseng (75-78, 9-over)

After Chevron put her back on the radar, qualifying for her first U.S. Women's Open in nine years and then narrowly missing out on the cut—I've grown such a soft spot for Tseng. She hasn't made a cut since 2018 and I'm pulling so hard for her to snap that streak.