Minjee Lee catapulted herself into the pantheon of Australian golfing greats by becoming the nation’s sixth player to win multiple Majors, the icing on the cake of a $A2.5 million US Women’s Open triumph.
The 26-year-old Lee, who broke through the Major barrier at last year’s Evian Championship in France, cruised to a four-shot victory at the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles on Sunday.
Lee posted an even 71 to finish at 13 under, with American playing partner Mina Harigae second at nine under. Hyejin Choi was third at seven under. New Zealand’s Lydia Ko was fifth at five under.
Lee’s 271 was the lowest 72-hole total score in US Women’s Open history and she joined her mentor Karrie Webb (2000 and 2001), as well as Jan Stephenson (1983), as the only three Australians to have won the championship.
“I’m speechless,” an emotion Lee said at the US Women’s Open trophy presentation. “I can’t believe it right now. It’s super, super special and a great honour. (The US Women’s Open) has been a dream since I was little girl; it’s the one I’ve always wanted to win and now I’ve done it, it feels amazing.”
Lee was also the recipient of the largest ever winner’s prize in women’s golf history – taking home a $US1.8 million ($A2.5 million) cheque. The tournament purse was also a record at $US10 million ($A14 million), with the next highest overall purse among the women’s majors the British Open at $US6.8 million.
“It’s such a large sum,” an overwhelmed Lee said, before commenting on what the boosted tournament purse meant for women’s golf going forward. “We’re only moving in the right direction. We’re only going to get better from here. I’m honoured to be the first winner of this sum.”
Lee started the final day at Pine Needles in North Carolina with a three-shot lead and threatened to run away with consecutive birdies on the first two holes giving her a five-shot advantage at the top.
But Lee made bogeys at the fifth and seventh.
The Perth native remained level with the card at the turn, 13-under-par for the week. She was four shots ahead of American playing partner Mina Harigae with nine holes to play.
Lee’s front nine was also highlighted by brave par saves, including at the sixth where she’d driven her ball into the sandy native area. At the ninth, she was threatened with a three-putt bogey but drilled a 12-foot par putt in the hole with authority.
At the par-5 10th, Lee failed to make birdie but escaped with a par after finding a treacherous lie in the sand scrub behind the green. Lee chipped onto the green and lagged her birdie putt to close range.
A clutch par save at the 11th was followed by a birdie at the 12th:
Lee then faced another mid-range putt for par at the 13th and drained it:
Lee appeared to have locked it up as early as the moment she hit a brilliant second shot into the par-5 15th, leaving an easy-two putt birdie. She three-putted the last for bogey but with such a cushion, it didn’t matter:
Lee’s victory ensured she joined five other Australian golf icons to have won multiple Majors. That group includes seven-time Major winner Webb, five-time Open Championship winner Peter Thomson, as well as Stephenson (du Maurier Classic – 1981, LPGA Championship – 1982, US Women’s Open – 1983), David Graham (PGA Championship – 1979, US Open – 1981) and Greg Norman (The Open – 1986, 1993).
Lee’s fellow Australian Hannah Green was tied 28th at five over, while Grace Kim was 13 over.
