Minjee Lee wins Women's PGA Championship for third major title
The 29-year-old from Perth added the title to her 2021 Evian Championship and the US Women's Open title she won in 2022, finishing with a four-under-par total of 284.
American Auston Kim and Thailand's Chanettee Wannasaen tied for second on on one-under 287.
'A lot of patience out there today,' said Lee, who started the day with a four-shot lead after a brilliant, bogey-free round on Saturday but had three bogeys in her first six holes.
'I just felt like some shots were going my way and some shots weren't,' Lee said. 'I just said stick to my game plan. It was a battle against myself pretty much, especially with how tough the conditions were this whole week — not just today, just amplified today because it's a major Sunday.'
Lee made her first birdie of the day at the par-five ninth, where she missed the green but chipped to two feet.
She gave a stroke back at the 10th, but after rolling in a tense nine-foot putt for par at 13 she drilled a nine-footer for birdie at the 14th to boost her lead back to three strokes.
She added a birdie at 15, holing a five-and-a-half-foot putt, remaining in control from there despite a last bogey at 16.
Through it all, Lee said, she was keeping an eye on her nearest rivals while trying to maintain her focus on another hot, wind-whipped day at Fields Ranch East in Frisco, north of Dallas.
'Pretty much I saw every single leaderboard and I knew exactly where I was pretty much all of today,' she said. 'I just tried to check the scores and then I just come back to each shot and try and execute it the best that I could.
'I really played within myself today.'
Kim, a 24-year-old American ranked 98th in the world and seeking a first LPGA victory, applied as much pressure as she could.
After a birdie at the par-five first she strung together three birdies in a row at the seventh, eighth and ninth — landing her tee shot at the par-three eighth a foot from the pin.
Hard course
'I just wanted to charge and get as close as I could to the top,' said Kim, who posted her best finish in a major. Prior to this tournament, she'd missed more major cuts (five) than she had made (four).
'I knew that the course is hard. I just played my percentages and tried to capitalise on good shots today.'
Chanattee seized her share of second with a 68 highlighted by an eagle at 15, where she found the green with her tee shot and rolled in a 14-foot putt.
World number two Jeeno Thitikul, who led after each of the first two rounds and started the day in solo second four behind Lee, was never able to get much going.
She closed with a three-over-par 75 that left her tied for fourth on one-over 289 with Japan's Chisato Iwai, who carded a one-under 71.
The grueling conditions all week took a toll on some of the game's top names.
World number three Lydia Ko, who started her week with a four-over 75, carded a one-under 71 on Sunday to finish in a group sharing 12th on 293.
World number one Nelly Korda fired a final-round 76 for a share of 19th on 294 and world number four Yin Ruoning was in a group on 295 after a closing 76. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
21 hours ago
- The Star
Cricket-Australia beat West Indies by three wickets in fourth T20
(Reuters) -Australia claimed a three-wicket victory over the West Indies in the fourth Twenty20 international on Saturday, barely needing to shift into top gear as they heaped more misery on the hosts who have yet to register a win in the five-game series. Chasing 206 in Basseterre, Saint Kitts, Australia lost opener Mitchell Marsh for a duck but Glenn Maxwell (47) and Josh Inglis (51) put together a 66-run partnership to lay the foundation for the chase. The visitors went on to clinch the win with four balls to spare and took a 4-0 lead in the series courtesy of Cameron Green's knock of 55 off 35 balls - his third half-century in the four matches. Jediah Blades was the pick of the West Indies' bowlers with 3-29 from his four overs. Earlier, spinner Adam Zampa took three wickets while fast bowlers Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett and Aaron Hardie took two apiece as the West Indies scored 205/9. Sherfane Rutherford topping the scoring for West Indies with his knock of 31. "To take a few early wickets, we know teams like the West Indies are going, with how deep they bat, we knew that they're going to come hard the whole innings, which they did," Australia captain Marsh said. "But, I thought the way we were able to navigate some tricky overs and keep taking wickets, I sort of feel 230 is probably par on that. I thought it was an outstanding effort with the ball." The final game of the series takes place at the same venue on Monday, before Australia return home for a limited-overs series against South Africa, while the West Indies host Pakistan for three T20Is and three one-day internationals. (Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Rugby-Wallabies are making progress despite Lions loss, says coach Schmidt
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals - England v Australia - Allianz Stadium Twickenham, London, Britain - November 9, 2024 Australia head coach Joe Schmidt before the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo (Reuters) -Australia coach Joe Schmidt is confident the Wallabies are on an upward trajectory despite seeing his side slip to a late series-deciding loss to the British & Irish Lions in Melbourne on Saturday. The 29-26 defeat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was the Wallabies second in succession against Andy Farrell's team and means the Australians have only pride to play for in the final test in Sydney next weekend. The nature of the performance from a Wallabies side that held an 18-point lead over the tourists at one point before Hugo Keenan's last-gasp winning try has given Schmidt belief his team are moving in the right direction. "I think they are progressing," said the New Zealander. "It's never linear. It always tends to ebb and flow. "Our challenge is to try and be as consistent as we can, even within the game. When you build a lead of 23-5 and that slips, that's hugely disappointing. Particularly when it happens in the last play of the game. "We are trying to build consistency, we're trying to play a brand of rugby that entertains people and at the same time a brand of rugby that we enjoy playing. "I'm really proud of the effort the players put in and I'm really disappointed for them." Schmidt's side for the third test is likely to be missing wing Harry Potter, who was replaced by Tate McDermott in the 19th minute of the game. "I don't think Harry Potter will be fit, that's a hamstring injury that looked severe enough to put him out for a period of time, so that might be an opportunity for somebody else," said Schmidt. "We've got a fair few bumps and bruises, including some fall-out from the last action of the game and we'll get players checked out and see how they come through." The Wallabies have announced former New Zealand lock Tom Donnelly will join the set-up as an assistant coach ahead of the Rugby Championship. He will replace the departing Geoff Parling. (Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Peter Rutherford)
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Rugby-Wallabies coach Schmidt slams match officials over late call in loss to Lions
Rugby Union - Australia v British and Irish Lions - Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia - July 26, 2025 British and Irish Lions' Owen Farrell celebrates with teammates after the match James Ross/AAP Image via REUTERS MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Australia coach Joe Schmidt said match officials had failed to uphold player safety and hit out at a late clear-out decision that ensured the British & Irish Lions clinched a series-sealing victory on Saturday. Fullback Hugo Keenan's last-minute try put the Lions 29-26 up at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but the Wallabies players cried foul after Jac Morgan cleared out Carlo Tizzano in the buildup. After a lengthy pause as the TV match official assessed multiple angles of the incident, the try was allowed to stand, giving the Lions victory and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. Citing rugby's Law 9.20, which says head contact and clear-outs around the neck should be penalised, an incensed Schmidt said the officials had got the decision wrong. "Because they're human, match officials make errors," he said at the post-match press conference. "We felt it was a decision that doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they're (World Rugby) talking about. "You cannot hit someone above ... the shoulders. "But that's what we've seen and we've watched a number of replays from different angles so it is what it is and we just have to accept it." Wallabies captain Harry Wilson was also convinced his team were hard done by. "Obviously I saw shoulder to the neck. Carlo was pretty sore about it," he said. Lions coach Andy Farrell had a different view. "I thought it was a brilliant clear-out," he said. "Honestly, it depends which side of the fence you come from, I would have thought. "I can understand people's opinions, but I thought Jac was brilliant when he came on -- and so were the rest of the bench." Schmidt said he was proud of his players but gutted by the final result after the Wallabies had taken a 23-5 lead near the half-hour mark. While the Wallabies were bitterly disappointed that the clear-out decision had gone against them, they did not need to use it as motivation for the dead rubber in Sydney next Saturday. "You can't get more motivated than what the players showed tonight," he added. "You've got to keep resolve and keep going forward. "We're not going to wallow in self-pity." (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
