Is this the year Minjee Lee adds the national open to her glittering résumé?
Minjee Lee may not be bringing down the US Women’s Open trophy like she did last year, but the superstar will touch down in Sydney for the Australian Open with just as much fanfare.
The Perth star, who won her second major last year, achieved another milestone in late October that she will celebrate with home fans – her 10th victory on the LPGA Tour.
The week after we spoke to the 27-year-old in September, she claimed her ninth LPGA victory at the Kroger Queen City Championship in Ohio. She then finished runner-up at the Hana Financial Group Championship in Korea, and a month later in the same country entered the double-digit win club at the BMW Ladies Championship. The crown jewels among those 10 wins are major victories at the 2021 Evian Championship and last year’s US Women’s Open at Pine Needles.
Now, the 27-year-old wants to fill another gap in her résumé – a Women’s Australian Open title. Despite her global success, the Patricia Bridges Bowl has so far eluded her. Dallas-based Lee is hungry to return home and tee up at The Lakes and The Australian Golf Club in an effort to win a maiden Australian Open crown.
“I have [played] pretty much every single year since I was maybe 13 or 14 years old,” Lee says. “I’ve seen a lot and had a lot of great memories. I was able to play with Webby (Karrie Webb) when I was 13.
“I feel like [by returning from the US each year to play the Australian Open] I can follow in her footsteps and do that for the younger generation coming through. It’s been really cool, actually, to be a little bit part of the growth in amateur and junior women’s golf in Australia. Even little kids; I have been able to do some clinics and things like that for My Golf, and it’s been really fun.
“It’s been really rewarding to go back every year to try to give [the fans] a little bit of inspiration and give them encouragement that they can do it as well. I just think it’s been really fun to be a part of the growth. Last year when I played, it was pretty cool coming off the US Open win, and it was a really lovely welcome home. I think the venues [Victoria and Kingston Heath] were great and just so many people came out to watch. I was really feeling the love there.”
No doubt, world No.4 Lee will feel the love in Sydney. Like last year, the Australian Open will be a mixed event. The men’s field will consist of 156 players, with 84 in the women’s field. Only one cut will be made, after 36 holes, reducing the field to the top 60 professionals plus ties in the men’s Open, and the top 32 professionals plus ties in the Women’s championship.
The All Abilities Championship will conclude on the Saturday. The Australian Golf Club will host the action all four days with nearby The Lakes Golf Club co-hosting the event for the first two days.
Lee is enjoying the festival of golf that is combining three different events into one. But eventually, she wants the Women’s Australian Open to return to its own stage.
“I really love that they’ve put the men’s and women’s together because I’ve played a few big opens that have been that way [such as the Vic Open] and that format. I really enjoy it. But I think in the long run I really would like to see a men’s Aussie Open and a women’s Aussie Open separate because it feels like both have enough prestige to be separate. But, right now, with having the men’s and women’s together, it’s really a great way to have everybody show that we’re very equal [in our golf ability].”
So, what’s next? Clearly, an Australian Open victory is the short-term goal. But in 2024?
“Well, I want to win the more majors,” Lee says. “I mean, any other majors would be amazing, but the 2024 Women’s British Open is pretty high on my list. Next year it’s back at the Old Course at St Andrews and winning at the Home of Golf would be pretty cool. I’ve never been to St Andrews. The 2024 Olympics in Paris is really high on my list too, so I’ll be preparing for that. Hopefully, I can medal.”
All in good time. First, there’s a national open to tick off the list.
Getty images: Chung Sung-Jun, Dylan Buell, Zhe Ji, Daniel Pockett
