The Drive On Championship: Ally McDonald Celebrates 28th Birthday with 1st Career Win

Photo provided by Ben Harpring

Top 10

1) Ally McDonald (-16) (+3000)

2) Danielle Kang (-15) (+750)

3) Bianca Pagdanganan (-14) (+16000)

T4) Carlota Ciganda (-13) (+2000)

T4) Mina Harigae (-13) (+75000)

T6) Ariya Jutanugarn (-11) (+5000)

T6) Katherine Kirk (-11) (+4500)

T8) Matilda Castren (-10) (+12500)

T8) Lydia Ko (-10) (+1800)

T8) Brittany Altomare (-10) (+3500)

Picks:

Bianca Pagdanganan at 2.5 units (+16000)- 3

Carlota Ciganda at 5 units (+2000)- T4

Gaby Lopez at 5 units (+6000)- T13

Yealimi Noh at 5 units (+4500)- T24

Jennifer Kupcho at 7.5 units (+3000)- T31

Total Units Won: 237.5

Total Units Bet: 250

ROI on season: -7.3%

Recap

Ally McDonald came into a Sunday at Georgia having to take down the devil of getting the first win off her back on her 28th birthday. Between her was a one-shot lead ahead of rookie driving phenom Bianca Pagdanganan, and the winningest player in 2020 in Danielle Kang rounding out the pairing two back at Reynolds Lake Oconee.

The whole group started slowly, with McDonald and Kang carding one-under on the front, and Pagdanganan even par for the opening side. Ariya Jutanugarn drew first blood on the Lake Reynolds Oconee Great Lakes Course, blitzing like a Georgia Bulldog linebacker from eight under at the start of play to within one seven holes in. Like other contestants, Jutanugarn stalled out, recording her fourth double bogey of the week to drop to 11 under and remove the only threat outside of the final group.

Jutanugarn’s scoring foretold that low numbers were out there Sunday. McDonald rounded the turn to the three holes she was most comfortable on, birdieing the 10th through the 12th to sit (-8) through those three holes for the championship and 17-under overall. The run expanded McDonald’s lead to five over Pacgdanganan and four over Kang with six holes to play. A lead that size over any other player felt insurmountable.

But for Kang, the engines revved up. Kang fired right back with a pair of birdies, with the competitive fire roaring like a V8 engine set to drive off away from the pack. McDonald dropped a shot with a missed up and down bid on the 14th, and the charge to the checkered flag was no longer clear. The horns blared from the homeowners watching from boats on Lake Oconee, trailing the final group over the back nine.

“ I can tell that you we can probably look at my Whoop and it would show a significant heart rate rise. I definitely was -- I wouldn't say thrown off -- but I had to resettle myself after holes 13 and 14 and just pump the brakes and not get ahead of myself, only control what I can control,” McDonald explained.

What felt like a roaring engine in the outright leader charging at Solheim Cup teammate Ally McDonald spun out on the 15th, dropping a bogey after tugging a three-footer left. It’s a miss Kang fought off all week. After Kang’s stumble, McDonald threw a counter jab with a birdie on the 16th to hold a three-shot lead with two holes to go.

Both Kang and McDonald found the water draped green in regulation, with a longer bid for the Mississippi State graduate than the major winner. McDonald’s bid charged four feet past with a power lip, and Kang’s effort to get to (-15) lay a revolution short of the cup. McDonald missed the comeback to make it a two-stroke lead with a par five remaining.

McDonald found the short grass, while Kang drove it into an awkward lie next to a bunker. Kang and caddie Ollie Brett deliberated until the No. 3 player in the Rolex Women's World Rankings conceded a fairway wood had to be perfect to carry 205 and laid up to around 70 yards. McDonald also didn't go for the green in two and hit her third to about 12 feet above the pin. It was eagle or bust for Kang.

With a wedge in hand, the foot slammed the gas pedal to the floor one last time. The inaugural Drive On Championship winner’s wedge flew five feet over the top of the flag, dug into the green, and hopped back with what felt like GPS towards the flag.

A shot that only Kang might pull off ripped over the lip. Kang took solo second, as McDonald won for the first time on the LPGA Tour and solidified a deep belief within herself.

“I've never doubted my ability, but I've definitely questioned whether I would be able to win out here. It's really hard to win out here.

So I've just really hung in there and tried to stick to my process since day one. That was able to get me in the winner's circle today. I'm really thankful,” McDonald shared as she wiped tears away.

McDonald then got to celebrate her 28th birthday with her parents in attendance.

Picks of the Week Analysis

Say farewell to 160 to 1 odds on Bianca Pagdanganan, because she’s never going to see them again. The longest hitter on the LPGA Tour is driving the distance revolution, and it couldn’t be starker of an example than on the 18th hole at Reynolds Lake Oconee Great Waters Course. The 480-yard par 5, the rookie sat with a six-iron in hand to get to the green in two. Kang and McDonald both had over 200 yards in. The Philippian native birdied the 18th all four rounds. It’s back to back weeks in the top 10 for Pagdanganan in her 6th and 7th career starts. She averaged over 300 yards for the full week off the tee. We’re just shy of a month away from the next LPGA event, and I’d be shocked if Pagdanganan is outside of the top 15 in odds to win in Florida.

Carlota Ciganda is trending in the right direction with back to back top-five finishes. The Spaniard is searching for her third career win. It’s not for lack of chances- with her 40th career top 10 in 181 starts, she’s close to the winner’s circle 23% of the time.

Gaby Lopez is playing her best golf since the restart, but couldn’t post her second win of 2020. Yealimi Noh and Jennifer Kupcho were on the outside looking in.

Listen to the recap on The 9th Tee Podcast with Ben Harpring and Kent Paisley on Apple Podcasts here or Spotify here.