Minjee Lee’s Real Confession After Her PGA Championship Win

Minjee Lee Clinches Her Third Major Title at the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

Australian golfer Minjee Lee made headlines once again as she clinched her third Major championship on Sunday, June 22, by winning the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.¹

With poise, grit, and resilience, Lee closed the tournament with a 2-over-par 74 in testing conditions at Fields Ranch East in PGA Frisco, Texas.

The victory marked her first LPGA Tour win since her triumph at the 2023 BMW Ladies Championship and cemented her reputation as one of the elite players in the women’s game.

🥹 https://t.co/qJxRn4cnGQ

— Minjee Lee (@minjeegolf) July 31, 2024

A Triumph in Texas: Lee Outshines the Field

Minjee Lee outpaced a field packed with seasoned professionals and hungry newcomers, finishing three strokes ahead of rising star Auston Kim, a standout from the Epson Tour, and Chanettee Wannasaen, a two-time LPGA Tour champion from Thailand.

Despite the challenging layout of the Fields Ranch East course, with firm greens and gusty winds, Lee remained composed throughout the final round.

Though she recorded five bogeys, Lee’s three crucial birdies proved decisive in keeping her in the lead and ultimately lifting the prestigious trophy.

Her final score not only demonstrated her mental strength but also her ability to navigate adversity under pressure.

Minjee Lee: Rewarding Victory After Years of Doubt

Lee’s reaction to the win captured the emotional significance of the moment.²

Speaking to the LPGA Tour, she reflected on her journey and struggles in recent seasons:

“It’s pretty awesome. Just to get another Major under my belt. It’s very well deserved, and I just feel really good.”

Lee has faced plenty of ups and downs since her last Major win in 2022. A key area of concern for her was putting — a vital component of any golfer’s game — and she had openly struggled with consistency on the greens.

“I think just the last two years, I had a little trouble with my putting, and had doubts here and there. I just feel like I’ve worked really hard to get to the position I am now… It’s so hard, and even better being a Major Championship.”

Her words revealed the intense personal effort and mental discipline it took to return to the winner’s circle in a Major event. The win validated her resilience and provided a surge of confidence going forward.

Dominating Early, Then Surviving the Pressure

Minjee Lee started the final round at 6-under par, holding a four-shot lead over Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul, a five-time LPGA Tour champion.

Thitikul’s bogey on the opening hole allowed Lee to stretch her lead to five shots. Despite giving a stroke back on the par-5 third hole, Lee stayed in control as Thitikul also faltered, making her own bogey and remaining at even par.

However, Lee’s dominance faced its first real test mid-round. Back-to-back bogeys on the fifth and sixth holes narrowed her lead, reducing it to three shots. The tournament’s pressure began to mount, and the momentum threatened to swing toward the chasing pack.

But Lee remained steady. While her challengers struggled to mount a charge, she made crucial par saves, especially during the windy back nine, that helped her maintain the lead and ultimately secure victory.

Auston Kim and Chanettee Wannasaen: Breakout Performances

While Lee rightfully stole the spotlight, runner-up finishers Auston Kim and Chanettee Wannasaen also had standout performances worth recognizing.

Kim, a standout from the Epson Tour, showcased tremendous poise throughout the tournament. Her finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA signals a major step forward in her budding career, and she will surely be one to watch in upcoming events.

Wannasaen, already a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour, proved her mettle yet again with a consistent performance.

The Thai star is quickly emerging as one of Asia’s brightest young golfers, and her ability to contend at Majors demonstrates the depth of talent developing on the LPGA Tour.

A Look at Her Legacy

With this win, Minjee Lee now owns three Major titles, adding to her victories at the 2021 Evian Championship and the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open.

At just 29 years old, Lee’s accomplishments place her among the most successful Australian golfers of all time — male or female.

Her career now includes:

• 3 Major Championships

• 11 LPGA Tour victories

• 2022 U.S. Women’s Open Champion

• 2021 Evian Championship Winner

• Consistent top-10 finishes in all five Majors

Lee’s composure and grace under pressure have become hallmarks of her game, and this latest victory only adds to her growing legend in women’s golf.

Minjee Lee: Fields Ranch East

A True Test of Championship Golf

The venue for the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Fields Ranch East in PGA Frisco, proved to be a fitting test for the world’s best players.³

The combination of firm, fast greens, and Texas winds made for a grueling challenge, rewarding precision and punishing even slight miscalculations.

Players praised the setup, noting that it demanded a high level of shot-making ability, especially around the greens.

The winning score was not far under par, a sign of the course’s difficulty, and the conditions provided the perfect backdrop for a Major championship.

Australia’s Golfing Icon: A Role Model for Future Generations

Minjee Lee has long been a role model for aspiring golfers in Australia, especially young girls looking to make their mark on the sport.

Born in Perth to Korean parents, Lee was a prodigy from a young age. She won the U.S. Girls’ Junior in 2012 and became the world’s number-one ranked amateur before turning professional in 2014.

Her steady climb in the professional ranks, including multiple LPGA wins and now three Majors, has solidified her status as a global ambassador for the game.

Her success has helped shine a spotlight on Australian women’s golf, and her latest win only enhances her legacy.

Overcoming Mental Barriers: A Key to Lee’s Return to the Top

What sets Minjee Lee apart isn’t just her swing or short game — it’s her ability to bounce back mentally. In recent seasons, Lee has been candid about the internal battles she’s faced, particularly related to confidence on the greens.

Her open acknowledgment of mental hurdles has made her relatable and admired by fans and peers alike. Winning a Major after overcoming putting woes and doubt underscores the importance of mental resilience in elite sport.

What’s Next for Minjee Lee?

With a third Major in her pocket, the rest of 2024 looks promising for Minjee Lee. Her win at the KPMG Women’s PGA has boosted her confidence and placed her back in the conversation for Player of the Year honors.

The remaining Majors — including the Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s Open — present fresh opportunities for Lee to build on her momentum.

Given her past success at Evian and her familiarity with links-style golf, Lee will be a favorite heading into those events.

Moreover, the win could serve as a springboard to reclaim her spot among the top five in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, where she had previously resided.

Minjee Lee’s 2025 Season So Far

A Champion’s Journey

Minjee Lee has long been one of the most consistent and poised players on the LPGA Tour.

As of mid-2025, her season has been marked by high-level performance, culminating in a major championship victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

With one major title, a runner-up finish, and a string of top-15 results across some of the tour’s most competitive events, Lee is reinforcing her status as one of the premier players in women’s golf.

Let’s break down her season in detail under unique subheadings that showcase the progression and consistency of her year.

Major Glory at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

The undeniable highlight of Minjee Lee’s 2025 season so far has been her dominant performance at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, where she claimed her third major title.

Lee displayed supreme confidence throughout the tournament, executing precision iron shots and draining clutch putts under pressure.

She walked away not only with the trophy but also with a $1.8 million winner’s purse — the largest single-event prize of her career to date.

Her victory at KPMG was a testament to her experience and mental resilience. It also solidified her reputation as a big-stage player, adding to her previous major triumphs at the 2021 Amundi Evian Championship and the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open.

Minjee Lee: Solid Showings in Other Majors

While her KPMG win stole the headlines, Minjee Lee also had respectable performances in other majors:

• At the U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally, she finished T22, earning over $110,000. Despite not being in contention, she showed admirable grit on a tough course setup.

• In the season’s first major, the Chevron Championship, she tied for 14th place. Her $104,783 prize came after a well-rounded performance, including an impressive third round.

These finishes underscore Lee’s remarkable consistency in the most demanding events of the season, even when not at her absolute best.

Top-15 Machine: The Backbone of Her 2025 Campaign

Minjee Lee’s season has been defined by an exceptional run of top-15 finishes, making her one of the most reliable players on tour:

• Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give – T14

• Mizuho Americas Open – T15

• Chevron Championship – T14

• JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro – T7

• HSBC Women’s World Championship – T11

These tournaments show that Lee has remained a constant presence near the top of the leaderboard. Whether playing in Asia, North America, or other venues, she has found ways to adapt to course conditions and stay competitive.

This run of form not only boosts her earnings but also builds momentum heading into the latter half of the season.

Minjee Lee: Brand Ambassador

Minjee Lee become the brand ambassador of Aon and exploring the parallels that exist between decision-making in golf and business.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Aon (@aonplc)

Ups and Downs: Finding Balance in a Grueling Schedule

Every season has its bumps, and Lee’s was no different. At the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards, she exited early with a T35 finish. While the match play format can be unpredictable, it did highlight the rare moments where Lee’s form slightly dipped.

Similarly, her T28 finish at the Founders Cup presented by U.S. Virgin Islands was another instance where she didn’t quite find her usual rhythm. These finishes are understandable in a demanding LPGA calendar that tests even the best.

Nonetheless, even her “off weeks” resulted in cuts made and solid paychecks, showing the floor of her game remains exceptionally high.

Statistical Overview: A Season of Efficiency

Through the first half of 2025, Minjee Lee has shown elite ball-striking, ranking highly in:

• Greens in Regulation (GIR)

• Driving Accuracy

• Strokes Gained: Approach

Her putting has also improved slightly year-over-year, a key component of her major victory and top-10 finishes. These stats indicate that she’s not just maintaining form — she’s evolving her game to become even more dangerous in contention.

With over $2.7 million in earnings already this year, Lee is among the top money leaders and remains a strong favorite to be in the mix for the CME Group Tour Championship later in the year.