MINJEE Lee turned simply the fourth Australian to win three or extra main championships with a dominant victory within the Girls’s PGA Championship.
Lee joined the choose group by successful her third main trophy, a four-under par complete across the demanding Fields Ranch course in Texas adequate for the Western Australian to complete three pictures away from Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen and American Auston Kim.
The hard-fought victory in windy circumstances noticed Lee be a part of Karrie Webb (7), Peter Thomson (5) and Jan Stephenson (3) as the one Aussies to win three or extra main titles.
Lee led by 4 strokes heading into the ultimate spherical, her benefit prolonged to 5 pictures early within the spherical, however within the brutally powerful circumstances following 4 bogeys within the opening 10 holes and her lead had been decreased to only two.
Remaining calm underneath strain, Lee birdied 14 and 15 in restoring her four-shot benefit, earlier than occurring to say victory, including the PGA trophy to her earlier main triumphs on the 2021 Evian Championship and 2022 US Open.
“I noticed each single leaderboard and knew precisely the place I used to be all of right now,” Lee mentioned of her last spherical. “I’d verify the scores and are available again to every shot and execute as greatest I might. I simply actually performed inside myself right now.
“I simply mentioned, persist with my gameplan, it’s a battle in opposition to myself. Particularly with how powerful the circumstances had been, not simply right now, however all week.
“It was amplified right now as a result of it’s a serious Sunday. Simply be affected person and take it because it comes.”
Lee was joined on the 18th inexperienced for an emotional celebration by the Australian contingent, earlier than singling out her household for the assist she receives.
“My mother and father have sacrificed a lot for me to be on this place,” she mentioned.
“Wherever Min Woo is he’s supporting. He’s a social media nut, so he’s on high of that.
“My dad’s again in Aus, I don’t know what time it’s, however they’ve all bought my again. It’s unconditional.”
Legendary Australian Karrie Webb was an spectator over the last day of the event, calling in to the broadcasters in reward of the eventual winner.
“She’s hanging powerful, she’s bought such an amazing mentality for main championships,” Webb mentioned of Lee.
“She’s not exhibiting any detrimental physique language to her taking part in companions, which might be making them really feel like she’s in management, although she’s most likely very nervous.”
Whereas within the moments after confirming the win, Lee’s youthful brother Min Woo, after ending his fourth spherical on the Travellers Championship in Connecticut, was one other to congratulate his sister.
“I’m so happy with you,” Min Woo mentioned in a video message. “The final couple of years have been powerful, and I’m so glad to see you again within the winner’s circle.
Gabriela Ruffels and Grace Kim had been subsequent better of the Australians, the pair ending in a share of thirty sixth.
STOP PRESS: Minjee Lee went inside a shot of becoming a member of the playoff on the Evian Championship, received by fellow Aussie Grace Kim. Lee made an eagle on the par 5 18th in ending 13-under par, one shot shy of Kim and Thai skilled Jeeno Thitikul.
Keep on Karrie
SEVEN-TIME main winner Karrie Webb will make her US Senior Girls’s Open debut on the San Diego Nation Membership from August 21-24.
Webb, who turned 50 final December, is a LPGA and World Golf Corridor of Fame member, is absolutely exempt into the championship.
Karrie Webb will contest the US Senior Girls’s Open throughout August.
The Queenslander is the one participant in LPGA historical past to win 5 totally different majors – the du Maurier Basic (1999), Kraft Nabisco Championship (2000-2006), McDonald’s LPGA Championship (2001) and the Girls’s British Open (2002) along with her US Girls’s Open titles in 2000 and 2001.
A 41-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Webb mentioned she was excited to be taking part in in her first senior main.
