Stacy Lewis’s candid critique of the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship wasn’t just a post-round rant—it was a wake-up call
Slow play, excessive heat, and questionable pin placements aren’t just annoyances—they’re barriers to progress in the women’s game.
If the LPGA is to continue its upward trajectory, it must ensure that major championships are both challenging and enjoyable—for players and fans alike. Lewis’s voice, backed by years of experience and leadership, deserves to be heard.
In that sense, her early exit may leave a lasting legacy—one that improves the sport for those who follow in her footsteps.
Shooting 78-76 for a 10-over-par finish and missing the cut was undoubtedly disappointing. But in golf, even the greats stumble.
Her journey at PGA Frisco serves as a reminder of how demanding the sport can be, especially on championship-level courses. If nothing else, this outing gives her another opportunity to reassess, adjust, and come back stronger.
With a reputation for grit and perseverance, Lewis is far from finished. The road ahead may be difficult, but few doubt her ability to return to form—and perhaps, surprise the field in events yet to come.
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Stacy Lewis Slams 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
A Frustrated Exit from a Prestigious Event
Stacy Lewis, former World No. 1 and one of the most influential voices in women’s golf, made headlines—not for her play, but for her candid criticism of the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.1
After bowing out in the second round at Fields Ranch East in Frisco, Texas, Lewis openly voiced her discontent with the tournament’s setup, particularly the pace of play and controversial hole locations.
While most players tend to tread lightly when discussing event organization, Lewis didn’t mince words.
Her remarks weren’t just personal complaints—they reflected growing concerns within the LPGA community about how women’s golf is being presented on major stages.
Great to see KPMG continue to make an impact in women’s golf! https://t.co/oq5E6UDfV0
— Stacy Lewis (@Stacy_Lewis) June 17, 2025
A Promising Start Marred by Glacial Pace
The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is one of the LPGA’s five majors and is considered a marquee event.
Hosted this year at the much-hyped Fields Ranch East, the event drew a competitive field, media coverage, and significant fan interest.
However, what should have been a showcase for elite women’s golf turned into a slog, with players enduring marathon rounds that extended up to six hours.
Slow play has long plagued professional golf, but at this level—and during a major championship—it becomes especially egregious. According to Lewis and others, the root of the issue wasn’t just deliberate pacing by players.
Rather, it was a combination of course design, tough pin placements, and windy Texas conditions that conspired to drag the rounds out.
Stacy Lewis‘s Call for Better Presentation
“Make Us Look Good”
In one of the most widely shared quotes from her post-round media session, Lewis emphasized the importance of showcasing women’s golf in the best light, particularly when the eyes of casual fans and major networks are tuned in:
“Make us look good. We’re trying to get more people to watch women’s golf… setups like this, they don’t help us.”
Her comments touched a nerve with fans and fellow pros alike. Lewis essentially argued that instead of highlighting the players’ talents, the tournament setup turned what should’ve been a compelling competition into an exhausting and sometimes humiliating ordeal.
When major championships are televised, especially on national networks, the opportunity to grow the sport is immense.
Unfortunately, when viewers see players struggling not just against each other but against nearly unplayable hole locations, the product becomes less appealing.
Hole Locations “On the Sides of Hills”
Lewis zeroed in on the course setup as a primary reason for the slow play, specifically criticizing the hole locations.
She described them as being placed “on sides of hills,” particularly citing the par-3 8th hole, where swirling winds and challenging pin positions made it nearly impossible to stop a ball on the green.
In her words:
“There was no way to stop it on No. 8.”
These comments suggest that the course setup bordered on punitive rather than challenging. While golf’s beauty lies in its difficulty and nuance, there is a thin line between fair test and unfair punishment.
When the hole locations severely reduce the margin for error even for top-tier professionals, frustration is bound to follow.
Endurance Test in Texas Heat
One major factor compounding the issue of slow play was the scorching Texas weather. With temperatures soaring, the physical toll on players increased.
Extended rounds lasting up to six hours in such heat not only affected performance but also posed potential health risks.
Even for athletes in peak physical condition, this kind of endurance test detracts from the overall quality of play.
In such grueling conditions, decision-making falters, focus slips, and tempers rise—all of which were evident throughout the field during the first two rounds.
Stacy Lewis: Voice for Players and Progress
This isn’t the first time Stacy Lewis has spoken out about broader issues in women’s golf.2
As both a player and a captain of the U.S. Solheim Cup team, she’s been at the forefront of pushing for better conditions, higher pay, and more visibility for women golfers.
Her latest comments continue that trend. Rather than directing blame at tournament staff or individual players, Lewis’s frustration seems rooted in her desire to grow the game.
She understands that events like the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship are critical opportunities to showcase how entertaining, skillful, and competitive women’s golf truly is.
Fan Reactions: Divided but Engaged
Reactions from fans and pundits were mixed. Some applauded Lewis for speaking the truth and holding the LPGA and course setup teams accountable.
Others felt her criticism might have come off as overly harsh or too emotionally driven following her missed cut.
However, what can’t be denied is the increased engagement her comments sparked. Social media was abuzz with debates about slow play, course design, and how women’s golf should be presented in mainstream media.
If nothing else, Lewis succeeded in drawing attention to issues that might otherwise have been swept under the rug.
The Bigger Picture: Growing the Women’s Game
The LPGA has made significant strides in recent years—larger prize purses, increased television coverage, and sponsorship growth. But if those gains aren’t paired with product consistency and audience-friendly broadcasts, the progress could stagnate.
What Lewis highlighted is the disconnect between intention and execution. Everyone involved wants the LPGA product to shine, but without careful course setup and time-conscious management, the actual gameplay may fall short of fan expectations.
In today’s fast-paced sports world, a six-hour round simply doesn’t cut it. Golf viewers, like all consumers, demand action, drama, and engagement—not prolonged downtime and procedural delays.
Fields Ranch East: Fit for a Major?
A significant part of the backlash also falls on Fields Ranch East. The course, relatively new to major championship hosting duties, was billed as a modern venue ready to welcome elite women’s golf.
But based on the feedback from players like Lewis, it appears the venue may not have lived up to that billing.
While scenic and technically demanding, the course setup may need serious reconsideration if it wants to be a recurring LPGA major site.
Unless future iterations address pace-of-play logistics, wind exposure, and pin fairness, it risks alienating both players and fans.
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Stacy Lewis at the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
A Detailed Performance Breakdown
The 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, held at the challenging PGA Frisco in Texas, drew some of the world’s most elite golfers, including two-time major champion Stacy Lewis.3
Making her ninth career start at this major, Lewis entered the event with experience and a desire to make a deep run.
However, her campaign quickly became a tale of inconsistency, missed opportunities, and mental resilience against adversity.
Let’s explore her performance round-by-round and hole-by-hole, while analyzing her strengths, struggles, and what her results may mean for the rest of her season.
A Rocky Start: Round 1 Overview
Stacy Lewis began her first round on Thursday under the scorching Texas sun.
Expectations were cautiously optimistic, especially given her familiarity with the course and her past major experience. However, the first few holes quickly turned those expectations into concern.
Lewis opened the tournament with back-to-back bogeys—on the par-4 2nd and par-5 3rd holes. These two early setbacks hinted at issues with either her approach shots or putting, which would continue to plague her throughout the round.
On the par-4 5th, she dropped another shot with a bogey, falling to 3-over within the first five holes.
Her lone bright spot on the front nine came at the par-5 9th, where she secured a birdie, somewhat stabilizing her score as she made the turn. However, she still finished the front nine at 2-over par.
Stacy Lewis: Analyzing the Scorecard
Inconsistency and missed greens in regulation
Looking at her overall performance across both rounds, Lewis’s most pressing issue was inconsistency.
She tallied just four birdies over 36 holes while recording four double bogeys and numerous single bogeys. Most of her trouble came on the back nine, particularly on holes 10, 13, and 16, which she played in a combined +9 over two rounds.
Her approach play and putting left much to be desired. If she missed a green in regulation, she often failed to get up and down, leading to multiple dropped shots. On a course as demanding as PGA Frisco, such lapses can be especially costly.
The Mental Battle: Veteran Composure Tested
Despite the challenges, Lewis never appeared rattled. Known for her mental toughness and leadership—both on the course and as the captain of recent Solheim Cup teams—she maintained her composure.
While the scores didn’t favor her, her body language and attitude remained composed.
Golf is often as much a mental game as a physical one, and while her technical execution faltered, her veteran presence was clear. Younger players could learn much from her grace under pressure, even in disappointing circumstances.
Historical Context: Ninth Start, Sixth Missed Cut
This year marked Stacy Lewis’s ninth appearance at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, a major she’s long considered one of the most prestigious.
Unfortunately, her 10-over-par 154 total meant she missed the cut—her sixth missed cut of the season.
That number is significant. For a player of Lewis’s pedigree, missing six cuts in a single season suggests deeper issues, whether technical, physical, or related to form.
Her 2025 season thus far has been a rollercoaster, and this performance only adds to the narrative of a veteran trying to rediscover consistency.
The Bigger Picture: What’s Next for Stacy Lewis?
After PGA Frisco, Lewis faces an important question: how does she bounce back from this performance?
As a player who has long balanced motherhood, competition, and leadership roles in the game, she’s always worn many hats. But when it comes to her golf game, the fundamentals need refining.
Whether it’s working on ball-striking, dialing in putting, or recalibrating course strategy, Lewis has the experience and team to make the necessary adjustments.
While her major championship window may be narrowing, her influence on the sport remains significant. A return to form may not be far off if she focuses on smaller improvements, both mentally and technically.
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