Minjee Lee began the final round of the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club with a three-shot lead. After starting the final round birdie-birdie, she widened her gap on the field even further. The 26-year-old from Perth left no doubt, winning the US Women’s Open by four over Mina Harigae. Here are some of the most impressive stats from Lee’s win. Several of them come from Justin Ray of the TwentyFirst Group:
271
Lee set the record for low 72-hole score in US Women’s Open history. The previous mark was 272, which three players have achieved: Annika Sorenstam in 1996, Juli Inkster in 1999 and In Gee Chun in 2015.
$2.5 million
In January, the USGA announced that the US Women’s Open purse would nearly double. The purse increased from $US5.5 million to $US10 million, with the winner taking home $US1.8 million ($A2.5 million). It’s the biggest winner’s cheque any woman has earned in professional golf.
22
Over the course of four rounds at Pine Needles, Lee had 22 birdies. It was the most of anyone in the field, by three.
200
Lee set the 54-hole scoring record, breaking Juli Inkster’s previous low mark. Inkster was at 201 after three rounds in 1999.
79 percent
Lee hit 79 percent of greens in regulation at Pine Needles, tying her for third in the statistic for the championship.
2.47
Entering the week, Lee was ranked 144th in strokes gained putting. But at Pine Needles, she was ranked second in that same statistic. On average for the week, she gained 2.47 strokes per round on the field with her putting.
14-under
When Lee birdied the first hole today at Pine Needles, she became the third player to ever get to 14-under or better at a US Women’s Open. The other two are Juli Inkster (1999) and Ariya Jutanugarn (2018).
Third
Lee joins Jan Stephenson and Karrie Webb as the third Australian woman to win multiple Majors and the third Aussie to win the US Women’s Open. Lee won her first Major at the Amundi Evian Championship in 2021.
PHOTO: Kevin C. Cox
