A devastated Minjee Lee has to vowed to “come back stronger” after squandering a golden chance to capture her third career major at the US Women’s Open.
The Australian and world No.9 fell apart on the back nine in the final round at Lancaster Country Club, while Japan’s Yuka Saso skated through to a clutch win and second major title.
Perth’s Lee began the final round tied for the lead and at one point had pulled three shots ahead. She took a two-shot lead into the back nine, but capitulated with an eight-over 78. Saso (68) produced a barrage of late birdies to win by three shots at Lancaster, an hour west of Philadelphia. Saso finished at four-under-par 276, with fellow Japan star Hinako Shibuno (72) runner-up. American duo Andrea Lee (75) and Ally Ewing (66) shared third at even-par. Lee fell to a tie for ninth at three-over.
Saso’s bid looked over early in the round when she four-putted for double bogey on the sixth to fall four shots behind Lee. But the 28-year-old Lee unravelled after a three-putt bogey on the 10th. At the par-3 12th, the 2022 US Women’s Open champion rinsed her tee shot en route to a double-bogey. Another double-bogey came at the 14th, officially ending Lee’s hopes of a second US Open, a feat only achieved by the great Karrie Webb among Australian golfers.
“I started good. Felt like I hit it pretty good; just missed a couple putts for birdie early and then I kind of blew up from there,” Lee said. “I did a lot of good things but obviously didn’t play very well today and I’m disappointed that I didn’t do better. Obviously I’m going to acknowledge my disappointment and then come back stronger, take the positives out of the week. It’s a lot of pressure on the last day, so it wasn’t my best performance but I’m sure there will be many better performances ahead.”
Hannah Green tied for 16th at five-over after a final-round 66, the equal low round of the championship.
Lee will need to regather in time for the final three majors of the year and the Olympics in Paris, where she will join Green in representing Australia for the second time after teaming up in Tokyo in 2021.
The Filipino-born Saso won the 2021 US Women’s Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. At 22 years, 11 months and 13 days, Saso is the youngest player in history to win two Women’s US Open titles, and the first ever to win two majors representing different countries.
“It feels great,” an emotional Saso said. “Winning in 2021 representing the Philippines, I feel like I was able to give back to my mum. And this year I was able to represent Japan and I think I was able to give back to my dad. So I’m very happy that I was able to do it. It’s just a wonderful feeling that I was able to give back to my parents.”
Meanwhile, on the PGA Tour, Adam Scott tied for 42nd at the Canadian Open in his quest to remain inside the world’s top 60 who are invited to the US Open. World No.58 Scott will attempt to gain automatic entry on Monday (US time) when he tees up in US Open qualifying in Springfield, Ohio. He will be among 64 players competing for four US Open spots.
Aaron Baddeley and Harrison Endycott missed the cut in Canada.
Aussie results around the world tours, courtesy of Australian Golf Media:
US Women’s Open
Lancaster Country Club, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
1         Yuka Saso                   68-71-69-68—276      $US2.4m
T-9       Minjee Lee                  70-69-66-78—283      $271,732.67
T-16     Hannah Green             76-71-72-66—285      $161,840.67
T-29     Sarah Kemp                75-72-72-70—289      $68,873.14
T-51     Gabriela Ruffels          75-73-75-70—293      $26,209
T-58     Amelia Garvey (NZ)     76-71-74-73—294      $23,035.89
MC      Lydia Ko (NZ)               80-73—153
MC      Steph Kyriacou            77-76—153
MC      Keeley Marx (a)           76-81—157
PGA Tour
RBC Canadian Open
Hamilton Golf & Country Club, Hamilton, Ontario
1         Robert MacIntyre        64-66-66-68—264      $US1.692m
T-7       Ryan Fox (NZ)              66-64-70-70—270      $295,317
T-42     Adam Scott                 70-69-70-69—278      $29,986
MC      Aaron Baddeley          77-71—148
MC      Harrison Endycott       72-79—151
DP World Tour
European Open
Green Eagle Golf Courses, Hamburg, Germany
1         Laurie Canter               68-66-73-72—279      €392,765.45
T-65     Daniel Hillier (NZ)        77-70-77-77—301      €5,660.44
MC      Haydn Barron              77-71—148
MC      Jason Scrivener           75-76—151
MC      Sam Jones (NZ)           76-75—151
MC      David Micheluzzi         74-78—152
Ladies European Tour
Dormy Open Helsingborg
Allerum Golf Club, Sweden
1         Perrine Delacour         68-70-67—205 €45,000
T-5       Kirsten Rudgeley         69-71-67—207 €11,200
T-64     Momoka Kobori (NZ)  75-70-74—219 €885
MC      Amy Walsh                  73-76—149
Korn Ferry Tour
UNC Health Championship
Raleigh Country Club, Raleigh, North Carolina
1         Kaito Onishi                68-69-69-66—272      $US180,000
T-38     Rhein Gibson              72-70-66-73—281      $4,915
MC      Brett Drewitt               71-72—143
MC      Dimi Papadatos          66-77—143
PGA Tour Champions
Principal Charity Classic
Wakonda Club, Des Moines, Iowa
1         Ernie Els                     62-68-65—195 $US300,000
T-3       Rod Pampling             65-65-69—199 $120,000
T-6       Vijay Singh (FIJ)            64-68-68—200 $76,000
T-8       Steven Alker (NZ)        67-68-66—201 $60,000
T-10     David Bransdon          68-68-66—202 $50,000
T-12     Stuart Appleby            68-69-66—203 $38,400
T-12     Steve Allan                  69-66-68—203 $38,400
T-18     Michael Wright           67-70-68—205 $23,844
T-27     Richard Green             70-69-67—206 $16,600
T-32     Cameron Percy            66-69-72—207 $12,133
T-41     David McKenzie          70-70-68—208 $8,800
T-47     John Senden               70-69-70—209 $6,400
