a day ago
Minjee Lee wins women's PGA championship to clinch third golf major
Australian star Minjee Lee moved another step closer to golfing greatness by winning a third major trophy at the women's PGA Championship in Texas, finishing -4, and three shots clear of Thailand's Chanettee Wannasaen and American Auston Kim.
The hard-fought win in windy conditions sees Lee join Karrie Webb (7), Peter Thomson (5) and Jan Stephenson (3) as the only Aussies to win three or more major trophies.
Lee was in the box seat heading into the final round after shooting a remarkable bogey-free three under in the third round to take a four stroke lead over Thailand's world number two Jeeno Thitikul.
That lead went out to five shots when Thitikul bogeyed the first at Fields Ranch, but in brutally tough conditions, Lee suffered a few wobbles to open her final round, with four bogeys in the opening 10 holes seeing her lead cut down to two.
But the ice cool Lee remained calm just as the pressure really ramped up, with a clutch par putt on the par three 13th maintaining her two shot advantage over Kim, Wannasaen and Thitikul.
Big time birdies on 14 and 15 saw Lee with one hand on the trophy with her lead restored to four shots, but there was still work to do after a bogey on 16.
The West Australian was perfect on 17 and 18 to add the PGA trophy to her 2021 Evian Championship and 2022 US Open triumph.
The legendary Webb called into the broadcast as Lee fought back over the final six holes.
'She's hanging tough, she's got such a great mentality for major championships,' Webb said of Lee. 'She's not showing any negative body language to her playing partners, which is probably making them feel like she's in control, even though she's probably very nervous.'
Lee, Wannasaen and Kim were the only three players to finish the championship under par on a tough course, with Aussies Gabriela Ruffels and Grace Kim finishing in a share of 36th.
Karis Davidson and Stephanie Kyriacou finished +12 in 47th, while 2019 PGA Championship winner Hannah Green finished 68th.
