Minjee Lee, a 29-year-old professional golfer from Australia, is on the verge of achieving a remarkable milestone in her career. As she heads into the final round of the PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East in Frisco, Texas, Lee has established a commanding four-shot lead. This tournament makes up the third leg of the women’s golf grand slam. Given her current form, a victory here would not only conclude her 19-month winless streak but reward her with a staggering prize of $3.4 million, making it one of the richest payouts in women’s golf history.
In the third round, held under challenging windy conditions, Lee delivered an impressive performance, finishing with a score of 3-under-par 69. She was 11 for 14 on fairways, evidence of her surgical precision on the course. Staggeringly, she required only 26 putts to navigate her round that day. This remarkable shot helped her chip away to finish with a 68 and raise her score overall to 6-under for the tournament.
Aiming for Grand Slam Glory
Lee also stands on the precipice of golf history if she’s able to win the U.S. Women’s Open Championship. Having previously won the Evian Championship in 2021 and the U.S. Open in 2022, she is just one step away from adding another major title to her repertoire. One more major victory would help make the case that she belongs in the conversation with the top greats in women’s golf history.
Adjusted to local time, as she gets ready for that final round, Lee will tee off with other members of that five-some, Jeeno Thitikul and Hye-jin Choi. The trio will begin their round at 1:50 AM AEST, with all eyes on Lee as she seeks to capitalize on her current lead. Whatever the challenges that hath beset her of late, her blinding performance on Saturday is a testament to her ability and desire to rise above them.
The Challenge Ahead
Even with her healthy lead, the final round has challenges of its own. The environment at Fields Ranch East is famously blazing hot and windswept, and could make a big impact on play. Lee will have to be both calm and strategic to overcome these challenges.
As she nears the last few holes, the tension will be palpable as she’ll be under pressure to perform. Her personal experience in high-stakes situations could set her up to flourish. The combination of her skill and recent form suggests that she is more than capable of handling any adversity that comes her way.
