[PHOTO: Getty images]
Minjee Lee entered rarefied air when she became a three-time major winner with her dominant triumph at the KMPG Women’s PGA Championship at PGA Frisco.
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The 29-year-old iced her status as one of Australia’s greatest ever golfers, becoming just the fourth from the nation to win three or more majors. She joined seven-time major winner Karrie Webb, five-time Open Championship winner Peter Thomson, and three-time winner Jan Stephenson (du Maurier Classic – 1981, LPGA Championship – 1982, US Women’s Open – 1983). Lee, Webb and Stephenson are the only Australians in history to have won three different majors.
Lee also overtook David Graham (PGA Championship – 1979, US Open – 1981) and Greg Norman (The Open – 1986, 1993) on the majors tally. “Yeah, I mean, it’s really cool, especially being only a few of us done it so far,” Lee said. “It’s just a really special feeling.”
The 29-year-old Lee is also now three legs into the five-leg career grand slam of women’s majors, with only the Women’s British Open and Chevron in the US to go.
After four rounds of negotiating brutally difficult greens, six-hour rounds and windy conditions at PGA Frisco, Lee tapped in for par on the 18th and a final round of 74 (two-over). Her four-under-par total was enough for a three-shot win over Chanettee Wannasaen and Auston Kim (both 68).
Lee saw her four-shot overnight advantage reduced to just two early on the final day when she bogeyed three of the first six holes. But she clung to victory courtesy of a stretch between the ninth and 15th holes where Lee produced three birdies and a bogey as the challengers stalled. Lee surged to a four-shot lead at one stage before a bogey at the 16th.
“A lot of patience out there today,” Lee said at the trophy presentation. “Obviously I had ups and downs today, and I just felt like some shots were going my way and some shots weren’t. I knew there were some opportunities coming down the stretch to make some birdies and close the gap a little bit. Yeah, I just played my very best.”
Fellow Australians Steph Kyriacou, Grace Kim and Hannah Green, as well as New Zealand golf great Lydia Ko, waited greenside with water and champagne to spray Lee, the West Australian who added the Women’s PGA title to her major trophy haul which includes the 2021 Evian and 2022 US Women’s Open.
In a smart move, communications staff from the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship had Minjee’s brother, Min Woo Lee, say a few words about his sister’s win. “Congrats, Minjee, for winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship,” Houston Open winner Min Woo said. “I’m so proud of you. The last couple years have been tough and I’m so glad to see you back in the winner’s circle. I’m proud of you and love you.”
Lee reciprocated the love to her family from PGA Frisco, crediting her parents with raising a multiple major winner and a PGA Tour and DP World Tour winner in Min Woo.
“I mean, my parents have sacrificed so much for me to be in this position,” Minjee said. “You know, I can’t say more things than I’m already thankful. Yeah, it’s just extra special that I could win in front of them. Obviously wherever Min Woo is he’s supporting me out there. He’s a social media nut so he’s on top of that. So it is really cool and obviously my dad is back in Oz. I don’t know what time it is there, but he’s tuning in and they always got my back. So it’s really nice and it’s great support and unconditional.”
Gabi Ruffels and Sydneysider Kim (T-36) were next best of the Australians 10-over, while Karis Davidson and Kyriacou (T-47) were two shots back. The 2019 Women’s PGA winner Green was 68th at 16-over. Perth product Hira Naveed was 77th at 24-over.
