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CNN
23-06-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Minjee Lee wins third career major at Women's PGA Championship, joins rare company with victory
Minjee Lee won her third career major at the Women's PGA Championship on Sunday, joining rare company among her fellow Australian golfers in doing so. Lee, 29, showed remarkable to composure to clinch the title at a windy Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco, closing out her victory with a 2-over 74 to win by three shots over American Auston Kim and two-time LPGA Tour winner Chanettee Wannasaen. Sunday marked Lee's 11th career win and her first victory on the LPGA Tour since the 2023 BMW Ladies Championship. It also means she becomes just the third Australian women's golfer to win three majors alongside Karrie Webb (seven) and Jan Stephenson (three). 'It feels pretty amazing,' Lee said afterwards. 'I feel like I really deserve this one. I put a lot of hard work into it. I feel really good.' The four days in Frisco, Texas, were a tough outing for all participants in tricky conditions – players dealt with strong wins and high temperatures – with Lee, Kim and Wannasaen the only three players to finish under par. Lee entered Sunday's final round with a four-stroke lead and, although her advantage fluctuated, it never fell below two shots as she kept a firm grip on the title over the 18 holes. She told reporters afterwards that she was aware of the scores elsewhere throughout her final round as she made sure to check every leaderboard she came across to keep up to date with what her competitors were doing. Even when Lee had three bogeys over four holes in the front nine, none of her closest rivals could take advantage of that slip-up; Lee's playing partner on Sunday, world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul, finished 1-over for the day and tied for fourth. Despite all the tough conditions and challenges from other players, remaining calm in the face of obstacles was key to her success, Lee explained afterwards. 'I just tried to be really simple out there. It was just so tough with the wind,' she said. 'Some of the drives that I hit were really terrible out there, but I was able to get up and down, make bogey, not have a score that was too large to come back from. 'I think I managed myself really well out there today. I knew the 14th and 15th holes would be birdie opportunities, so just tried to stay patient and just try to make pars until those holes.' Lee is the fourth Australian women to win the Women's PGA Championship and now is just two wins away from the career grand slam – achieved by win the five major titles – needing the Women's British Open and the Chevron Championship to complete the set. She also took home $1.8 million of the record $12 million purse, which was up from $10.4 million a year ago. Lee finished on 4-under to claim the victory in Texas, being doused in champagne on the 18th green after sealing the title. Fellow Australian Hannah Green was one of those celebrating with Lee and is also a former winner of the Women's PGA Championship. She said watching her friend lift the trophy made her feel 'super proud.' 'She's come close in many majors before,' Green said. 'The US (Women's) Open probably hurt her a little bit last year (where Lee had a lead in the final round but collapsed later on), probably added some more fuel to the fire, so it's amazing to have her name on another trophy. 'She's obviously proved herself with her new putter. She's putted amazing this week. I hope she's able to enjoy it because it was a really tough week, mentally more than physically. I think all of us are pretty knackered. Super proud of her.'


CNN
23-06-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Minjee Lee wins third career major at Women's PGA Championship, joins rare company with victory
Minjee Lee won her third career major at the Women's PGA Championship on Sunday, joining rare company among her fellow Australian golfers in doing so. Lee, 29, showed remarkable to composure to clinch the title at a windy Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco, closing out her victory with a 2-over 74 to win by three shots over American Auston Kim and two-time LPGA Tour winner Chanettee Wannasaen. Sunday marked Lee's 11th career win and her first victory on the LPGA Tour since the 2023 BMW Ladies Championship. It also means she becomes just the third Australian women's golfer to win three majors alongside Karrie Webb (seven) and Jan Stephenson (three). 'It feels pretty amazing,' Lee said afterwards. 'I feel like I really deserve this one. I put a lot of hard work into it. I feel really good.' The four days in Frisco, Texas, were a tough outing for all participants in tricky conditions – players dealt with strong wins and high temperatures – with Lee, Kim and Wannasaen the only three players to finish under par. Lee entered Sunday's final round with a four-stroke lead and, although her advantage fluctuated, it never fell below two shots as she kept a firm grip on the title over the 18 holes. She told reporters afterwards that she was aware of the scores elsewhere throughout her final round as she made sure to check every leaderboard she came across to keep up to date with what her competitors were doing. Even when Lee had three bogeys over four holes in the front nine, none of her closest rivals could take advantage of that slip-up; Lee's playing partner on Sunday, world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul, finished 1-over for the day and tied for fourth. Despite all the tough conditions and challenges from other players, remaining calm in the face of obstacles was key to her success, Lee explained afterwards. 'I just tried to be really simple out there. It was just so tough with the wind,' she said. 'Some of the drives that I hit were really terrible out there, but I was able to get up and down, make bogey, not have a score that was too large to come back from. 'I think I managed myself really well out there today. I knew the 14th and 15th holes would be birdie opportunities, so just tried to stay patient and just try to make pars until those holes.' Lee is the fourth Australian women to win the Women's PGA Championship and now is just two wins away from the career grand slam – achieved by win the five major titles – needing the Women's British Open and the Chevron Championship to complete the set. She also took home $1.8 million of the record $12 million purse, which was up from $10.4 million a year ago. Lee finished on 4-under to claim the victory in Texas, being doused in champagne on the 18th green after sealing the title. Fellow Australian Hannah Green was one of those celebrating with Lee and is also a former winner of the Women's PGA Championship. She said watching her friend lift the trophy made her feel 'super proud.' 'She's come close in many majors before,' Green said. 'The US (Women's) Open probably hurt her a little bit last year (where Lee had a lead in the final round but collapsed later on), probably added some more fuel to the fire, so it's amazing to have her name on another trophy. 'She's obviously proved herself with her new putter. She's putted amazing this week. I hope she's able to enjoy it because it was a really tough week, mentally more than physically. I think all of us are pretty knackered. Super proud of her.'
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
KPMG Women's PGA 2025 prize money: Full payout from $12 million purse
Minjee Lee won her third career major title and first since 2022, capturing the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Lee finished three shots clear of Auston Kim and Chanettee Wannasaen. She earned $1.8 million for her victory while Kim and Wannasaen each collected $944,867. Advertisement Here's how the $12 million purse was paid out at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco in Texas.


Malay Mail
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Minjee Lee wins Women's PGA Championship for third major title
LOS ANGELES, June 23 — Australian Minjee Lee fired a gritty two-over-par 74 to win the Women's PGA Championship on Sunday, capturing her third major title by three strokes on another demanding day in Frisco, Texas. 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


CBS News
22-06-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Minjee Lee secures 3rd major win at KPMG Women's PGA Championship at PGA Frisco
Minjee Lee closed with a 2-over 74 but never gave up the lead Sunday in the final round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship to win her third major title. While Lee had three bogeys in a four-hole stretch on the front nine, she had started the day with a four-stroke lead over Jeeno Thitikul. And the world's No. 2-ranked player, also in that final group, bogeyed both par 5s that are among the first three holes on Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco. Lee, ranked 24th, finished at 4-under 284, three strokes ahead of Auston Kim and Chanettee Wannasaen, the only other players under par. "A lot of patience out there today. Obviously, I had ups and downs today," Lee said. "It's a battle against myself pretty much, especially with how tough the conditions were this whole week, not just today. Just amplified because it's major Sunday." Kim and Wannasaen both shot 68 to match the best rounds of the day, and the tournament, after only two 68s combined the first three rounds. Kim was bogey-free, but had only pars after three consecutive birdies to wrap up her front nine. With a record $12 million purse that was up from $10.4 million a year ago and matched the U.S. Women's Open for the most price money, Lee took home $1.8 million. That matches the $1.8 million Lee got for her four-stroke win in the 2022 U.S. Women's Open. The 29-year-old Australian who is a Texas resident, living in nearby Irving, got her 11th career win. It was her first this season, making it 16 players to win 16 LPGA tournaments this year. While still windy like it had been all week at 15-20 mph, there weren't the constant gusts of 30 mph or more that had made the playing conditions so difficult Saturday. Thitikul, still in search of her first major title, had the solo lead after the first and second rounds. But she fell behind shooting a 76 on Saturday, when Lee had the only bogey-free round for any player until then. Thitikul then hit her first shot Sunday into the right rough on way to a 75 to finish at 1 over 289, tied for fourth with Chisato Iwai (71). Lee's lead Sunday never got under two, and she preserved that with a clutch 8-foot par putt at the 170-yard 13th hole to stay at 3 under. That came about the same time Wannasaen rolled in a 14-foot eagle putt at the 235-yard par-4 15th hole to get to 1 under, though the 21-year-old from Thailand then missed the green and bogeyed the 455-yard 16th. "Pretty much I saw every single leaderboard and knew exactly where I was pretty much all of today," Lee said. "Just really played within myself today." There was a subtle fist pump from Lee when she then made a 9-foot birdie at No. 14, the only par 5 on the back nine, and followed with another birdie at No. 15. She was the only player this week with two rounds in the 60s, with 69s on Thursday and Saturday. Lee's first bogey was at the par-5 third after her third shot went into a deep greenside bunker, then she had back-to-back bogeys on the 441-yard fifth and 434-yard sixth hole. She didn't have a birdie until the ninth to make the turn at 4 under — at the time three ahead of Thitikul and Kim. Kim started the final round nine strokes back, which was two more than the record comeback for a women's major. Several players have done that, including Lee when she won the 2021 Evian Championship in France by coming from seven back for her first major title. The 24-year-old Kim opened her round with a 5-foot birdie putt on the 528-yard par 5 first. She got within two strokes of Lee after the three birdies to wrap up her front nine. Her tee shot at the 157-yard 8th hole stopped a foot from the cup, and was sandwiched by a pair of 2 1/2-foot birdies before parring out. Nelly Korda, the world's top-ranked player, and semi-retired Lexi Thompson both closed with 76s. Thompson, in the second-to-last group for the second day in a row, finished tied for 12th at 293. The 30-year-old, who played for only the seventh time in 16 tournaments this season, has gone 11 years since her only major win in the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship. Korda tied for 19th at 6-over 294 and still hasn't won this year after winning seven times last season.