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7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘A great of Australian sport': how Minjee Lee rose to top in a golden era of women's golf
The finest triumph for Australia's highest-paid sportswoman was accompanied by something unusual. For the usually private, impassive Minjee Lee – after winning her third major at the Women's PGA Championship near her second home in Dallas, Texas – tears were a glimpse into her recent pain. Related: Australia's Minjee Lee wins historic third major at Women's PGA Championship Advertisement A 19-month winless run. A collapse at last year's US Open. An adoption of the broomstick putter, a very public symbol that everything was not right. But those experiences were consigned to the past after sinking a par putt on 18 in Frisco. 'It's very different, because I feel like I had a lot of doubt the past few years,' she said. 'I think this one just means a little bit more to me.' The West Australian won by three strokes to earn $2.8m and become only the third Australian golfer to claim three different major championships, after Karrie Webb and Jan Stephenson. Even Greg Norman only found major success at a single tournament, the Open Championship, in his two victories. Lee's coach Ritchie Smith said it can be difficult to comprehend just how much Lee has achieved. 'It's a golden era for women's golf, and she's still a great,' he said. 'It's hard for me to say, because I'm her coach and I'm biased. I don't think she's just a great of golf, I think she's a great of Australian sport.' The likes of Ash Barty, Sam Kerr, Lauren Jackson, Ellyse Perry and Stephanie Gilmore have been recognised as Australia's most successful female sportspeople in the past decade, all as standard bearers in globally competitive sports. But while Lee had risen to become the second-ranked golfer in the world by 2019, her profile – at least in Australia – was not at the same level as her peers. Outside the men's majors, golf does not have the same cut-through or broad appeal as other codes, and when it does reach a broader Australian consciousness, it is usually thanks to the achievements of PGA stars such as Adam Scott or 2022 Open Championship winner Cameron Smith. Lee's softly-spoken manner and reserved demeanour is also less than a natural fit with publicity. Advertisement Her profile has even been challenged by her younger brother Min Woo, now Australia's top-ranked men's golfer. He has emerged as a legitimate star on the men's PGA Tour over the past two years, with a brash social media status enhanced by a stream of celebrity colabs. But over 11 years on the LPGA tour, Minjee's winnings still dwarf the prize money won by her brother, and are approaching US$20m. Even if the younger Lee passes that figure, he almost certainly will not end his career with anything near the list of her accomplishments. Minjee Lee is only the fifth active player to have won three majors alongside Lydia Ko, Yani Tseng, In Gee Chun and Anna Nordqvist, and only Ko is younger. The Australian knows she should have had another too, after she led by three shots in the final round of last year's US Open before she 'blew up' – as she described afterwards – to finish ninth. Across Lee's many years as a professional, Smith has observed how she handles defeat less with disappointment and more with embarrassment, and the US Open result was about as bad as it could get. On the sport's highest stage, there was Lee, fully exposed. 'To capitulate the way that she did last year, it had a really negative effect on her,' Smith said. 'So to reinvest into actually being in a vulnerable position like that, it takes a long time, and this is what people don't understand. 'She's risked being vulnerable in front of a whole heap of people, and I couldn't be prouder of her to be honest, because that's a scary proposition.' Advertisement Lee was asked by the host in the trophy ceremony whether she now wishes she had adopted the longer putter 'a little bit earlier'. She laughed and said 'no'. It was an acknowledgement of the importance of her recent adversity. Rather than just biomechanics, Smith said Lee has undergone psychological change. 'She's been so guarded and stoic for her whole career,' he said. 'And now, if you have a look at her, her interview at the end of the round, there were actual emotions, she shed a tear – which is probably the first time she's ever done that.' Smith believes the process means Lee can now be happier in the sport. 'All of her 'being' revolved around being a really great golfer, but when you emotionally disengage a little bit, then all of a sudden you can be the person that you want to be. And I don't know if you notice, but she smiles a lot more now.' Lee admits the criticism affected her. 'The more I heard, like the media and other people saying things about my putting, I think it got to me more and more over time.' Yet that difficult period is now over. A major winner again, Lee said this week's triumph – highlighted by a champagne shower on the 18th green delivered by those familiar with her struggles – was 'my most deserved'.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minjee Lee wins third major at KPMG Women's PGA and is now halfway to LPGA Hall of Fame
FRISCO, Texas – Clara Lee couldn't watch. After daughter Minjee made three bogeys in the first six holes, the former teaching pro couldn't help but think back to last year's U.S. Women's Open, where Minjee held a three-stroke lead on the back nine at Lancaster Country Club, only to collapse into a share of ninth. Clara tried to stay positive, but when Minjee got on the greens, mom walked away and texted a friend to get the results. 'Just watching her, I'm 10 years older this week,' joked Clara as Minjee hoisted her third major championship trophy at the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Advertisement Fields Ranch East course, the new Home of the PGA of America and a staple in the big-event lineup for years to come, provided a merciless test to the best women in the world. Behind her shades, 29-year-old Lee looked chill in the suffocating Texas heat, but as she battled unrelenting winds on a vast, Texas plain, she wanted the world to know that all was not as it appeared. 'I just want to be clear,' said Lee. 'I definitely was nervous starting the day. I wasn't really sure if it was the heat that was making my heart beat more … I looked calm, but I was not as calm as everybody thinks.' Winless since the fall of 2023, Lee's resurgence of late can be traced back to one club: the longer putter. She put it in play at the start of the season at the urging of longtime coach Ritchie Smith. Lee's strokes gained putting rank in 2024 was a dismal 137th. She ranked fifth on tour this season coming into the week, and finished first in the field at PGA Frisco. Minjee Lee reacts on the 18th green after winning the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship. 'Just changing to the broomstick has given me a lot more freedom, I think,' she said. 'I was just – I guess I just had a lot of thoughts, and just I was overthinking probably about just the conventional way of putting. Advertisement 'I think just taking my hands a little more out of it and using the broomstick has really been helping me.' An 8-foot par putt on the 13th, followed by birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 put Lee squarely in command down the stretch. She held a three-stroke lead over Auston Kim (71) and Chanettee Wannasaen (71) coming into the 72nd hole, where a host of players and caddies made their way to the back of the green with bottles of champagne. 'She's the longest friend I've had,' said Lydia Ko, 'so it's really special for me to be here for her win. 'I saw a stat that she didn't three-putt at all. That's crazy because I was doing a lot of that.' Lee becomes only the third Aussie to win three different majors, joining mentor Karrie Webb and Jan Stephenson. With victories at the 2022 U.S. Women's Open and 2021 Evian Championship, Lee is now one of five active players on the LPGA with three legs of the career grand slam, joined by Anna Nordqvist, In Gee Chun, Yani Tseng and Ko. Advertisement While she called the career grand slam her 'ultimate goal,' the LPGA Hall of Fame is what she dreamed of as a kid. 'That's why I wanted to be on the LPGA Tour,' said Lee, 'to, you know, win a bunch of tournaments and try to get into it. 'Seeing Lydia do it, I think I would really like to get there. We'll see how we go after this week.' For the record, Lee now has 14 of the 27 required to qualify. Lee's caddie, Michael Paterson, is new to her team this year and, fittingly, was on the bag for four of Karrie Webb's major wins. Paterson said smart golf got them into the winner's circle at 4-under 284. That, and Lee's ability to move on from the bad in as little as half a hole. Only three players finished the KPMG Women's PGA under par, the fewest number at this championship since 2003. Advertisement American stars Nelly Korda (T-19) and Lexi Thompson (T-12) played in the penultimate group and shot 76. World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul began the day four strokes behind Lee in solo second but finished in a share of fourth after a closing 75. Paterson praised his boss's attitude in the toughest scoring conditions of the year. 'The way she can just brush off a little bit of adversity and keep her chin up,' said Paterson, 'it's unbelievable.' Minjee Lee poses with the trophy after winning the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Lee's brother Min Woo left a message for big sis, telling her he was proud. He tried calling but she was too busy accepting the trophy so he chatted with mom. Though Lee is a resident of the Dallas area, her house was too far away from PGA Frisco to commute, so she stayed with friends in the area. Clara cooked for her every night and made omelets for the morning. She went to Costco to buy all the fruit, slicing up the kiwi and watermelon. Advertisement When Minjee won the U.S. Women's Open at Pine Needles, Clara was on a plane headed to South Korea. This marked the first major championship victory she was able to see in person. 'It was awesome, but I'm exhausted,' she said with a big smile. For Lee, this major hit different. This one, she felt like she deserved. 'I think it's very different, because I feel like I had a lot of doubt the past few years,' she said. 'Not with my long game, but more with my putting. 'I think the more I heard media and other people saying things about my putting, I think it got to me more and more over time. 'Yeah, I think this one just means a little bit more to me. I mean, obviously U.S. Open is my absolute favorite, but in terms of my most deserved I think this one is the one.' This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Minjee Lee wins third LPGA major championship at KPMG Women's PGA
