Aussie golf star wins third major, secures $3.7m payday

Contributor
Joshua Mayne
Aussie golf star wins third major, secures $3.7m payday image

Minjee Lee has won the Women's PGA Championship by three shots.

It is the Australian golf star's third major triumph, making her the fifth active player to achieve the feat.

The 29-year-old took out the Evian Championship in 2021 before winning the US Women's Open in 2022.

She is now two majors away from completing the career golf grand slam, with the Chevron Championship and AIG Women's Open remaining.

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Lee entered the final day in Frisco with a four-stroke advantage, holding off some fast-finishing rivals to lift the trophy. 

She shot two-over on Sunday (local time) to notch an overall -4, calmly slotting a pair of pars on the 17th and 18th holes to secure victory.

Chanettee Wannasaen and Auston Kim both went four-under on the day to tie for second at -1.

The Australian's triumph sees her take home a staggering US$2.4 million (approx. AU$3.7 million) in prize money.

Lee notably becomes just the fourth Australian golfer – male or female – to win three or more majors, joining Karrie Webb (7), Peter Thomson (5) and Jan Stephenson (3).

"I had ups and downs. I felt like some shots were going my way and some weren’t," she said after her win.

"I just said stick to my game plan. It’s a battle against myself, pretty much, especially with how tough the conditions were all week, amplified because it was major Sunday.

"I saw every single leaderboard and knew pretty much where I was all of today. I just tried to check the scores, then come back to each shot and try and execute.

"I really played within myself today."

Fellow countrywomen Grace Kim and Gabriela Ruffels tied for 36th place in Texas.

Steph Kyriacou and Karis Davidson were tied at 47th, while Hannah Green and Hira Naveed finished outright 68th and 77th, respectively

Robyn Choi and Cassie Porter both missed the cut.