11th Career Victory at KPMG Women's PGA Championship
A Career Grand Slam Awaits with AIG Open Win in July
Thitikul Ties for 4th, Choi Hyejin and Lee Somi Share 8th Place
Minji Lee (Australia) has collected her third major trophy.
On June 22 (local time), at the Fields Ranch East Course (par 72, 6,604 yards) in Frisco, Texas, USA, Lee lost two strokes in the fourth round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship on the LPGA Tour (total prize money $12 million), but still secured a commanding victory by three strokes (4-under-par 282). This marks her 11th career win and her first in one year and eight months since the BMW Ladies Championship in October 2023. The winner's prize is $1.8 million (approximately 2.47 billion KRW).
Minji Lee is putting on the 11th hole of the 4th round at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Frisco, USA - Photo by AFP Yonhap News
Lee has now claimed three major titles, following her victories at the 2021 Amundi Evian Championship and the 2022 U.S. Women's Open. If she wins either the AIG Women's Open this July or the Chevron Championship next year, she will achieve a career grand slam by winning all four different major tournaments. Only seven players in history have accomplished a career grand slam: Louise Suggs (1957), Mickey Wright (1962), Pat Bradley (1986), Juli Inkster (1999, all USA), Karrie Webb (2001, Australia), Annika Sorenstam (2003, Sweden), and Park Inbee (2015).
Lee started the final round with a four-stroke lead and recorded three birdies and five bogeys. She faltered by losing three strokes over 13 holes, but fended off her competitors with consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th holes. Lee secured her victory by sinking a par putt on the final 18th hole (par 4), after which she shed tears of joy. She celebrated by drinking champagne offered by her fellow players. Lee exclaimed, "I gave my best until the end. I was able to win thanks to the help of so many people."
Chanettee Wannasaen (Thailand) and Auston Kim (USA) both shot four under par in the final round to share second place (1-under-par 287). Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand) and Chisato Iwai (Japan) tied for fourth place (1-over-par 289). Among Korean players, Choi Hyejin and Lee Somi posted the best results, tying for eighth place (3-over-par 291). Lydia Ko (New Zealand) finished tied for 12th (5-over-par 293), while Nelly Korda (USA) and Hwang Yoomin of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour tied for 19th (6-over-par 294).
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