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Yahoo
23-06-2025
- 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'.
The Guardian
23-06-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘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. 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. 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.' Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion 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'.
ABC News
20-06-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Women's PGA Championship: Australian Minjee Lee one stroke back after first round of third major of 2025
Minjee Lee has matched the searing heat with a sizzling start to the PGA Championship in Texas, women's golf's third major of the year. Drinking litres and litres of water and taking refuge under an umbrella, Lee collected seven birdies in a first-round three-under-par 69 at PGA Frisco. Australia's dual major winner is just one shot behind Thai superstar Jeeno Thitikul and one ahead of American Yealimi Noh, Japan's Rio Takeda and South Koreans Somi Lee and Haeran Ryu, who share third at two under. "I putted really great today. I made a lot of birdie putts and a whole bunch of up-and-down par putts as well," Lee said. "My iron game was pretty solid as well, but I think I need to sharpen up my drives a little bit. But I felt quite good today. "I was clutch under, like, 14 feet." Lee at one point reached five under for a two-stroke buffer following back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes, but dropped shots on 16 and 18 to open the door for Thitikul to snare the first-round lead. The Perth ace was nevertheless happy to just be back in the clubhouse after a gruelling morning battling the conditions. "I just kept telling my caddie, 'Can you give me another water, can you give me another water?' So, I don't know. I don't think we could have enough out there. It's really hot," Lee said. "It's the same for everyone. I mean, if it's tough for me, it's going to be tough for pretty much the whole field. "Just try and use my umbrella to shade the sun and the more wind we have, it's a little bit cooler, so just try and hydrate and eat well on the course." Thitikul started slowly, slipping to two over with a double-bogey six on the fifth hole. Do you have a story idea about women in sport? Email us abcsport5050@ But that was her lone blemish before reeling off six birdies in her last 13 holes to sit pretty atop the leaderboard. Nine players shot one under to be tied for seventh, with Steph Kyriacou the next best of the Australians after opening with an even-par 72 to be well-placed in joint-16th position. Grace Kim is one shot further back after starting with a 73, with Karis Davidson (74), 2019 PGA champion Hannah Green (74), Robyn Choi (74) and Hira Naveed (75) also inside the cut line. But Gabriela Ruffels (77) and Cassie Porter (78) have ground to make up to play the weekend. World number one Nelly Korda posted a first-round 72, three days after aggravating a neck injury during a practice round. While Korda said it did not hurt hitting shots, the two-time majors champ felt pain "just with rotation" of her neck and that it was hard to get comfortable sleeping at night. "It's better, yeah. Getting better every day, which is nice," she said. "Just because I injured it last year, whenever I do injure my neck, it takes a little bit longer than normal. "I kind of tweaked it before my round with Ariya [Jutanugarn] in Vegas this year, during the night I couldn't move then, so thankfully it wasn't as bad as that day … Just takes me like a week to kind of recover when I tweak my neck now." AAP
RNZ News
19-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Midday Sports News for 19 June 2025
Golfer Dame Lydia Ko needs just one more major victory to complete a career grand slam and feels the PGA Championship is one that she could win. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
18-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Dame Lydia Ko says another Olympics is not on her radar
New Zealand golfer Dame Lydia Ko. Photo: CARMEN MANDATO / AFP Dame Lydia Ko has again hinted that retirement may not to be too far away with the 2028 LA Olympics not on her radar. Ko lines up in this week's PGA Championship in Texas hoping to fulfil one of her dreams, completing a career Grand Slam. She won the British Open two week's after her Olympic success last year to add her third major title. Victory at either the PGA Championship or the US Open would give her that honour. The 28-year-old said after her golden run in 2024 that her plan remains to retire within three years. Following the recent success of Ryan Fox on the PGA Tour, Ko was this week asked if she would like to team up with him in the new mixed-team competition at the Los Angeles Olympics. "In Paris we were both like this is probably our last Olympics," Ko said. "I think it's a really fun format to have, but I think it's very unlikely that I will be competing in that one." Ko, who completed her Olympic set of medals with gold in Paris last year, thinks that golf has been on the Olympic programme long enough now for it to be changed up. "I think it's a great way to integrate the sport. "I'm excited to see it (mixed teams), whether I play in it or not is not really the big thing." The big thing now for Ko though is another major title. She feels that she has a PGA Championship victory in her. "The PGA Championship is the one that I could-should win, like the type of golf courses we play." Seven women have completed career grand slam, the last was Inbee Park in 2015. New Zealand golfer Dame Lydia Ko. Photo: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire/Photosport Ko admitted she probably shouldn't have won the British Open last year, so to do that means anything is possible. "That is where I had not the best record going into St Andrews last year and especially coming off the Olympics, so if I made the impossible possible. "I feel like if I'm playing good golf and I'm smart and committed then hopefully I can give myself opportunities. "I'm enjoying playing a lot more these days and that just puts me in a better mindset." Ko became the youngest player to win on the LPGA Tour claiming the Canadian Open as a 15-year-old amateur in 2012. She turned pro in 2014 and has now won 23 times on the LPGA Tour and 15 times in other parts of the world. Her major victories were the 2015 Evian Championship, the 2016 Chevron Championship and the 2024 British Open. She finished second at the 2016 PGA Championships and tied for third at the 2016 US Open. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
