Jason Day again appears the Australian most likely

Jason Day in action at Winged Foot on Wednesday – photo Chris Keane USGA

Jason Day will start tonight’s US Open as the Australian player most likely to perform well, his record in this particular event by some way the best of the nine Australians teeing it up at Winged Foot in New York.

Day has played this event on nine occasions and since and including his remarkable debut at Congressional in 2011, when he finished runner-up to Rory McIlroy, Day has finished inside the top ten on four other occasions including when also in the runner-up position at Merion in 2013.

The debut finish in Washington behind McIlroy typified Day’s game, producing some remarkable up and downs and although he trailed the winner by eight shots it highlighted the now 32 year old’s great capacity to grind it out when the going gets tough.

Another outstanding performance by Day came at Chambers Bay in 2015 when, despite collapsing with a bout of vertigo during the second round, he was able to finish 9th behind the eventual winner that year, Jordan Spieth.

Day with his runner-up medal in 2011, can he again contend in 2020.

Day has done enough in recent starts to suggest he might again perform well. Although he struggled in his two appearances in the FedEx Cup Playoffs there was a lot to like about the way he played in earlier events when producing four consecutive finishes inside the top ten including an impressive share of 4th at the PGA Championship.

Day has always shown a capacity play the big events well and if he was to continue that trend this week then it would be no surprise.

Adam Scott will play the US Open for the 19th occasion, only Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia in this week’s field having played the event on more occasions.

Clearly that leaves Scott with plenty of experience of the USGA style set-ups but with only three top tens in those eighteen previous appearances, it is perhaps his least productive major championship.

Scott has done well enough since his lengthy break in Australia to wait out the US PGA Tour’s Covid inspired break and could play well although it is perhaps a bit much to expect him to contend.

Scott in practice this week – photo Darren Carroll USGA

Cameron Smith, like Day, produced a remarkable performance on debut at the US Open when 4th at Chambers Bay in 2015, a three wood to three feet at the 72nd hole setting up an eagle and a finish that would play a big part in gaining access to the PGA Tour.

In three starts in the event since, Smith has finished no better then 59th but while his recent form has not been outstanding it has not been poor, playing his way to the Tour Championship courtesy of a couple of solid finishes during the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Of the other Australians, Marc Leishman appears to be struggling with his game at present, while Matt Jones, Lucas Herbert, Scott Hend, Curtis Luck and Lukas Michel all get their chance to play a major, for Luck his second and for Michel his first.

Recent Korn Ferry Tour winner  Curtis Luck plays his first US Open – photo USGA

Winged Foot has been the home of six previous US Opens, the first being when Bobby Jones won in 1929 and last in 2006 when Geoff Ogilvy became the second Australian to win the title, remaining the last man standing when Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie squandered late opportunities to win.

The winning score in 2006 was a massive 5 over par and indications suggest that the layout will again prove more than a handful.

Winged Foot looking a picture this week – photo Darren Carroll / USGA

 

 

 

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Cameron Percy shares 54 hole lead in California

Cameron Percy- a form turnaround provides a share of the lead – file photo Henry Peters

Victorian Cameron Percy shares the 54 hole lead at the Safeway Open in Napa in California, the now 46 year old chasing his first win on the PGA Tour after first becoming a member in 2010.

Percy is tied at the top of the leader-board with Americans James Hahn and Brian Stuard, but after a season on the PGA Tour where he has been unable to finish better than 25th in any event since this very same tournament last year, his showing is a major turnaround and if he is able to go and win tomorrow then it will provide a career changing moment.

“It would mean the world to me,” said Percy when asked what a win tomorrow would mean.

“It would be fantastic. It would mean I get to go to Augusta, which is a goal. I’ve never been to Augusta, which is the biggest goal you have when you come over here. I just thought I’d get there, I haven’t got there yet, so it’s a big deal.”

Percy finished 7th in this event last year, soon after regaining his playing privileges via the then Web.Com Tour Finals but in 15 PGA Tour events since he has missed eight cuts and been forced to withdraw from events on two occasions.

He has been able to retain his playing privileges for the new season because of the carry over aspect of status due to the Covid 19 crisis however and is making the most of it thus far.

Percy’s best finish to date on the PGA Tour came in that rookie year of 2010 when finishing second after a playoff against Jonathan Byrd in the Justin Timberlake event in Las Vegas. Byrd actually holed his tee shot at the 4th extra hole during the playoff to end the battle as darkness fell.

Injury free after a series of issues with a broken wrist and his ribs, Percy has clearly found form and tomorrow offers a chance to re-establish himself on the PGA Tour and improve his standing so early in the new season.

He puts his improvement down to being injury free and a new putting device and putter he has adopted of late.

“I saw Justin Rose practicing at Wyndham and he had this laser that he would line his putter up and his caddie would take his ball away and see where he’s lined up. I used his laser and then I bought one in the time I had off. I got it and my putter was nowhere near where I thought I was lined up.”

A new putter has also played its role. “I had a few putters at home and I noticed a few guys use those SIK putters and I asked them for one and they gave me one and it was the one I line up the best every time. So that’s half the battle, lining up where you’re looking. I hit a lot of putts online this week. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m at the top of the putting, for sure.”

Percy gets to play in the penultimate group tomorrow with 4th placed Kristoffer Ventura ahead of the final pairing of Stuard and Hahn.

The playoff to end Percy’s hopes of a first PGA Tour win in 2010.

 

 

 

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Australasia Well Represented at US Open

Jason Day has enjoyed a good record at the US Open since his debut in 2011 (pictured)

The US Open is now just a week away and with nine Australians and two New Zealanders having played their way into the field there is much interest in the event from this part of the world.

In order of world ranking, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman, Jason Day, Cameron Smith, Lucas Herbert, Matt Jones, Danny Lee, Ryan Fox, Scott Hend, Curtis Luck and Lukas Michel, will tackle the demanding Winged Foot beginning on September 17th, that group attempting to become the first Australasian since Geoff Ogilvy’s win at the same venue in 2006 to take the title.

Adam Scott will play his 19th US Open having recorded a best of 4th when a last round of 64 at Chambers Bay in Washington State saw him tied for that pace with fellow Australian Cameron Smith.

Scott has made the cut in each of his starts since returning to tournament golf at the PGA Championship in August with a best of 22nd at the PGA Championship at Harding Park. He was 25th in his last appearance at the BMW Championship in Chicago two weeks ago.

Marc Leishman will play his 9th US Open with a best finish of 18th at Oakmont in 2016. Leishman has struggled with his form in recent weeks and will need a significant form reversal if he is to better his Oakmont effort.

Jason Day enjoys an impressive record at the US Open with five top tens in his nine appearances to date, two of those when runner-up including when on debut in the event in 2011.

Day has displayed some encouraging form of late with four top tens in seven starts since the PGA Tour’s return to competition in July. His game is perfect for the demands of major championship golf over demanding layouts and, if injury free, then he stands a chance of contending.

Cameron Smith debuted at the US Open in 2015 when he produced a remarkable 4th place finish at Chambers Bay. He has not fared as well since, his best in three starts since that amazing first appearance being 59th.

Smith’s most recent form, however, has been solid enough, making it all the way to the Tour Championship where he finished 22nd in the 30-man field. He recorded two top twenties in the two other FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Lucas Herbert will play his second US Open after a disastrous debut at Shinnecock Hills in 2018. He is a far more credentialed player now, however, and gets his place in this field courtesy of his impressive improvement in world ranking due mainly to his win at the Dubai Desert Classic in February.

The current Australian Open Champion, Matt Jones, has yet to make the weekend in his four appearances to date at the US Open, having missed the cut in three and being forced to withdraw when on debut at Bethpage Black in 2009.

Jones, who is also in the field courtesy of his world ranking, has hardly set the world on fire of late and faces a big task if he is to better his record in the event.

The first of the two New Zealanders in the field is Danny Lee, who plays the US Open for the third time although he was also eligible to play in 2009 as the 2008 US Amateur champion but turned professional and relinquished his exemption.

Lee gets his place in the field as a result of his standing amongst those on the FedEx Cup points table and not already exempt for the event.

Lee missed the cut at Chambers Bay and finished 57th at Oakmont in 2016 so this will be his first appearance since then. His most recent form has been encouraging but it is hard to imagine him contending for a potential second New Zealand victory in the event following that of Michael Campbell’s win in 2005.

Michael Campbell’s win in 2005

Ryan Fox will compete in his third US Open having performed well when 41st at Chambers Bay on debut and then he missed the cut at Pebble Beach last year.

Fox, who is in the field as a result of his efforts on the Australasian Tour in 2019, has played well in European Tour events in the last couple of months but this is clearly another level.

Scott Hend played his first US Open in 2004 and his last in 2011 but the only time he made the cut in his three starts in the event was when 32nd at the 2006 edition at this year’s venue, Winged Foot.

The Queenslander, who gains his start in 2020 as a result of his fine efforts on the Asian Tour in 2019, has not played well since his return to tournament golf in events in Europe so his chances of a good week appear slim.

Curtis Luck gained his start in this year’s event courtesy of his performances in recent Korn Ferry Tour events, more especially his win Ohio three weeks ago.

This will be his US Open debut although he was eligible to play in 2017 after winning the US Amateur the year before but turned professional beforehand.

Victorian amateur, Lukas Michel, is in the final Australasian in the field his inclusion as a result of his impressive win at the 2019 US Mid-Amateur Championship in Colorado.

This will be an amazing experience for the now Victorian based but Perth raised 26 year old.

One of only two Australians to win the event, Geoff Ogilvy at Winged Foot in 2006.

 

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Australasians Prepare for ANA Endurance Test

Minjee Lee – another chance at a major? – photo LET.

The second major championship in women’s golf for 2002 is played this week in Rancho Mirage in California where temperatures are expected to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit for much of the week.

Five Australians and one New Zealander will take to the fairways of the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club but with the event being played six months later than its traditional date the hot late summer weather in the Californian desert is expected to play a key role in the outcome of the event.

The heat, coupled with smoke filled air caused by the Californian wildfires, suggest the 72 holes will be as much a test of endurance as they will golfing skills.

Tournament officials have already made allowances for the heat. Practice rounds will be played in golf carts and, during the event itself, caddies are able to drive carts while players walk.

New Zealander Lydia Ko, a winner of this event in 2016 and a player who has shown a significant form improvement in recent starts, expressed her concern for the expected conditions. Like so many in the field, however, she is just happy to have the chance to play another major after so much uncertainty in 2020.

“I think I was just excited that we were going to have the opportunity to play,” said Ko on Tuesday. “I actually at that point when the schedule was kind of announced didn’t realize how hot it would be until I think a couple weeks ago I was talking with Pernilla (Lindberg) and she was saying that it would be pretty hot because I was initially thinking of coming early the week before instead of going back to the East Coast.

“I saw the temperature and I was like — I normally think like 70s is perfect, 80s is like nice, 90s it’s getting hot and 100 you’re like, whoa, and then I’m like, this is like three digits and it’s over 110. Like you don’t really know how to gauge it, especially in Fahrenheit, I’m not like super good with.

“But no, I mean, everybody is playing in the same weather, and like I said, we’re just lucky to be here, obviously a very different atmosphere to what it’s normally like. But at least the champion will be able to have a nice dive into the cool water of Poppies Pond on Sunday.”

Interestingly, despite her domination of the game for such a lengthy period of her still young career, the win in 2016 was the only top ten in seven starts in the event so she will need a continuation of her recent improvement under the watch of new coach Sean Foley if she is to contend again.

Of the Australians in the field, Minjee Lee is the standout not only because of her world ranking (5th) but because her recent form suggests she could be a genuine contender for her first major title. Like Ko she has only one standout performance in this event, that coming in 2017 when finishing 3rd.

In five other starts there has been no other top ten for Lee but with three top 5 finishes in LPGA Tour events in her last five starts there is reason to believe she could at least contend.

Hannah Green is just the third Australian female to win a golfing major, but she appears to be taking some time to settle back into tournament golf following the forced extended break during the Covid issues.

She returned with a solid 16th place at the Scottish Open but missed the cut two week’s ago in Arkansas

Katherine Kirk will play this event for the 13th occasion but with just one top ten in those attempts it would seem her chances of contending seem slim. In her defense, however, is that she is playing as well now as she has for some time, highlighted by a 7th place finish at her last start in Arkansas two weeks ago.

Su Oh, has fallen from the standing she had previously in the game and has missed the cut in her last three starts since the return of the LPGA  Tour. Having never finished better then 50th in four starts in this event, suggests things aren’t going to get a whole lot better this week.

Standout Victorian amateur, Gabriela Ruffels, gets her opportunity to play a second major when she tees it up for the first time in this event having recently finished runner-up in the US Women’s Amateur Championship when defending her title from the previous year.

Ruffels, who attends the University of Southern California and bases herself not too far from this week’s venue, played her first major championship at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon a few weeks ago where she missed the cut by just one shot.

Ruffels is foregoing college golfing commitments over the next few months to concentrate on events such as this and the US Women’s Open.

Lydia Ko takes the traditional leap into Poppies Pond following her win in 2016.

 

 

 

 

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Persistence Pays for Inverell’s Brett Drewitt

Brett Drewitt – file photo

29-year-old NSW golfer, Brett Drewitt, has today won his first Korn Ferry Tour event with a narrow but impressive victory at the rescheduled Lincoln Land Championship in Springfield, Illinois.

Born in Taree but raised in Inverell in the New England area of NSW, Drewitt turned professional in 2013 and gained access to the then Web.Com Tour after performing with distinction on the feeder tour, the PGA Tour China, in 2014.

By 2017 he had graduated to the PGA Tour via the Web.Com Tour finals and although he found that level of play a little beyond him at that stage he has continued to play the Web.Com and now Korn Ferry Tour since.

Having missed the cut in two of his last three events including at last week’s Korn Ferry Tour Championship, Drewitt’s form reversal was a welcome surprise and his finish has jumped him to 18th in the Korn Ferry Tour rankings for 2020.

If he is able to finish inside the top 10 at the completion of the Orange County National Championship in four weeks’ time he will regain at least partial exemption to the PGA Tour.

The leading ten players on the points table at the completion of events in October get the chance to play the secondary events on the PGA Tour in 2021 with the full Korn Ferry Tour points table now carried over until the 2021 season

“It’s surreal right now; it’s been a hard road over the last couple of years,” Drewitt told the PGA Tour. “This year has been a rollercoaster.

“When I got to the PGA TOUR, I led in ball-striking out here [in 2016]. I just trusted that I still had it, even if it might not show in my stats. And then the putts started dropping and that’s just the way it goes.”

Drewitt’s win follows three weeks after the breakthrough victory of West Australian Curtis Luck on the Korn Ferry Tour.

 

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Leishman and Smith Advance to Tour Championship

Marc Leishman – to play his 5th Tour Championship – file photo.

Australians Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith have graduated to the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship in Atlanta next week, the pair remaining inside the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings following the completion of the BMW Championship near Chicago today.

Despite Leishman finishing last of the 69 players at the BMW Championship, his exploits earlier in the disrupted 2020 season all but ensured he would advance irrespective of his performance at Olympia Fields.

Smith began the week in Chicago in 26th place in the standings but after a slow start to the event he produced an impressive weekend with rounds of 68 and 69 to move into a share of 20th place for the week and comfortably inside the top 30 who get to compete for the riches of the Tour Championship.

Leishman began the week in 25th place in the standings and although he struggled throughout and finished in 69th place of the eventual 69 who completed 72 holes over the demanding layout, he is in 25th place in the FedEx Cup standings as the Tour Championship gets underway.

After his round he discussed this week’s performance.

“I’m just struggling with energy and that sort of thing on the course, not playing great, either,” he said. “Yeah, I don’t know what it is. Just haven’t been much fun on the golf course, either. It’s a tough game. We all know that.

“Take the good with the bad, and this is why you celebrate your wins so hard because you’re going to have times like this. You hope you don’t, but like I said, it’s a hard game, and you’ve got to take the good with the bad. I’m going through a rough patch at the minute but hoping to turn that around next week for sure.”

Adam Scott began this week’s event in 38th position in the standings and through 54 holes he had moved inside the projected top 30 and was just two from the tournament leaders this week, Hideki Matsuyama and Dustin Johnson.

On a day where scoring improved considerably, however, Scott was unable to build any momentum through the early stages of his round and four dropped shots in his final four holes of round 4 saw him finish the week in 25th place and in 41st place in the FedEx Cup standings. He will therefore miss out on the Tour Championship, an event he won in 2006.

Leishman gets to play the Tour Championship for the 5th occasion having first played in his PGA Tour rookie season of 2009 and for each of the last three years.

Smith plays the Tour Championship for the second occasion having qualified in 2018 when he finished 20th.

Jason Day was the other Australian to have made it to the BMW Championship but he was unable to improve its standing, finishing 64th this week and 58th in the FedEx Cup standings and will not play in Atlanta.

The tournament was won in the most stunning fashion by Jon Rahm who was forced to recover from Dustin Johnson’s heroics when holing an impossible putt from 30 feet at the 72nd hole only to hole one of nearly twice the distance on the first extra hole himself to take the title and his first FedEx Cup playoff victory.

For Rahm it was his 5th win of 2019 to go along with four runner-up finishes.

Johnson remains in first position in the FedEx Cup standings while Rahm is now in second place, the same positions held in the world ranking.

 

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Curtis Luck’s Professional Breakthrough in Ohio

Curtis Luck – an important breakthrough in Ohio.

West Australian Curtis Luck has today won his first event as a professional with a narrow but impressive win at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Nationwide Children’s Hospitals event in Columbus in Ohio.

The former US and Asia Pacific Amateur Champion led through 54 holes at the Ohio State University’s Scarlet Course but fell behind before two late birdies saw him edge clear to win by one over American’s Theo Humphrey, Taylor Montgomery and Cameron Young.

Luck had been struggling in recent weeks missing his last three cuts on what is the USPGA Tour’s secondary tour but this victory has him on track to return to the PGA Tour where he played in 2019.

Luck will improve from 135th to 18th on the Korn Ferry Tour’s points table and with the leading ten players at this season’s end earning the right to play the PGA Tour next season, he has positioned himself for a potential run at a return to the big time.

The 2020 and 2021 seasons have been merged due to the impact of Covid 19 but an allowance has been made for the leading ten points scorer to play the PGA Tour in 2021.

Luck’s return to form suggests he may well be amongst that group, following the completion of the season in early October.

 

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Cameron Davis Finding His PGA Tour Feet

Davis and caddie Tschudin – file photo

25-year-old Australian golfer Cameron Davis is just two from the lead of Dustin Johnson at the Northern Trust Open in Boston, a second round of 65 added to his opening 64 at the TPC Boston having him tied for second place.

The performance leaves the US based New South Wales golfer nicely placed in the opening event of the FedEx Cup playoffs and improves his chances of graduating to the penultimate playoff event next week in Chicago and the Tour Championship in Atlanta the following week.

Davis was forced to regain his playing privileges for the PGA Tour via the Korn Ferry Tour finals last year but as his experience builds in the big league he is beginning to fulfill some of the significant potential he has displayed throughout his career to date.

Top tens in Hawaii and Florida earlier this year before the Covid enforced break gave an indication of the benefit of his earlier experience on the PGA Tour but in recent weeks he also has been in very solid form with two top twenty finishes in his last three starts.

The former World Amateur Champion, Australian Amateur Champion, Australian Open Champion and a member of the Australian Eisenhower winning side in Mexico, Davis was a winner on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2018 in the year following his brilliant win in his national open at the Australian Golf Club in 2017.

“I’ve been working hard on the physical and mental side of the game and it’s nice to see both coming together,” said Davis after his round today.

“Through the quarantine, there was not much golf at all. Took a little while to get going again. A little bit of work on both is nice to see it kind of coming together to the point where I can play 18 holes of good quality stuff.

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to 36 more and see where it takes me.”

Davis was in 91st position in the FedEx Cup table heading into this weekend and needed a good week if he was to advance but wasn’t about to get too aggressive.

“I don’t think I would play this course any differently if I was doing really well in the FedExCup or not. I’d just pick my plan for what I think will give me the best chance to have a good score and I think that would be the same if I was No. 1 or No. 125.

“It’s just one way around this place that suits my eye for each pin location. I’m going to stick to that plan. I don’t think anything is attacked more unless it’s like back nine on Sunday, and you’ve got to really make a charge and you can’t afford to be making pars.

“I think that’s the only time it really changes, but up until that point, I feel like the game plan that I’ve got gives me the most chances for birdie.”

Davis has the benefit of a good friend and experienced golfer, Andrew Tschudin, (pictured) on his bag as he has been almost since turning professional.

Tschudin is a player good enough to have won the Queensland PGA Championship several years ago and began his caddying life when on the bag of Minjee Lee when she was runner-up behind Cheyenne Woods at the Australian Ladies Masters at RACV Royal Pines on the Gold Coast while still an amateur.

In another boost for Australasian golf, New Zealander Danny Lee is one shot behind Davis and tied for 4th.

 

 

 

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Minjee Lee’s Bounce-back Offers Hope

Minjee Lee – file photo courtesy of LET

Through four holes of her opening round of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon in Scotland, Australia’s Minjee Lee could have been forgiven for asking just what on earth was going on.

Having played very well in recent weeks she appeared to be building towards a special performance in this the first female major championship of the year but with two bogeys and a double in her opening six holes on Thursday, her hopes of a best ever major championship finish appeared to be fading.

She would, however, play her next 30 holes in a very impressive 3 under par and now, following her second round of 2 under par 69, she stands at 1 over for the tournament and tied in 4th place and just two from the lead held by Dani Holmqvist.

Again she began slowly on day two, with bogeys at her opening two holes but she put together four birdies and no bogeys over the remaining 16 holes, including consecutive birdies at the 17th and 18th, to be nicely placed heading into the weekend.

Lee was a bit more ready for the conditions today as the opening day’s blustery, cool and damp weather came as a bit of a surprise. Conditions did not improve today but the 24 year old was ready for them and although she made a shaky start she played the remaining holes better then anyone in the field.

“I wasn’t really expecting the severity of the winds (yesterday), and even the practice rounds last week it wasn’t very windy. Once the wind hit me, I was like, oh, it was very tough.

Then today, I think I sort of expected like how much wind there was going to be and sort of adjusted a little bit better to the wind that we had.

“I haven’t really seen the forecast for tomorrow or the weekend but I’m sure it’s going to be windy. I think just at this point in time, I think can’t really think too far ahead. Just stay in the moment. Stay patient with the wind.”

Perhaps the highlight of her round came at the 11th when she chipped in from off the green but her closing two birdies have given her perfect momentum heading into the weekend.

Lee is one of only three players along with Inbee Park and Amy Olson to have broken 70 in the opening 36 holes reflecting the demands of the windswept layout and the quality of Lee’s play.

Lee is tied in 4th place with New Zealander, Lydia Ko, who continues her improvement from the indifferent form she has displayed over the past eigtheen months or so.

Now working with former Tiger Woods coach Sean Foley Ko appears to be getting back to her best with one or two good finishes of late.

“I feel like every competitive round I get in, there’s a bit more confidence that builds in,” said Ko. “It’s like the saying where, you know, just even like an 18-handicapper, you know, that one shot brings me back up for tomorrow; and I really think it’s the same for me, too; that one good shot that you feel, that that’s the shot I want to emulate on the next hole or tomorrow.

“The more times I put myself in contention or in a good position it gives me confidence about my game. Sean has been trying to get me to swing aggressively and freely and I feel like I hit it better that way.

“Sometimes it’s easier said than done, but you know, I’ve just got to go out there and not worry about it and just believe in myself.”

Sweden’s Holmqvist leads by one over American Austin Ernst and Spain’s Sophia Popov with another shot back to those tied in 4th place.

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Can Minjee Lee Claim Maiden Major Title?

Royal Troon – photo Ladies European Tour

Australia’s Minjee Lee has yet to win a major title amongst her five LPGA Championship victories but this week’s AIG Women’s British Open Championship, at Royal Troon on Scotland’s Ayrshire Coast, offers a great chance for the 24-year-old to take her standing in the game to another level.

Despite her significant level of success close to the elite of women’s golf, the Perth golfer’s performance in major championship golf has been somewhat disappointing with just three top tens in 29 major championship starts.

Lee has played the Women’s British Open event on six previous occasions, two of those resulting in top tens with a best of 9th in 2015 at nearby Turnberry. She also finished 11th last year so this would seemingly represent a great opportunity.

Also importantly for her chances this week is that Lee has returned after the enforced layoff imposed on the LPGA as a result of Covid 19 in fine form having finished 3rd, 4th and 16th in her three starts to date.

There appears no real reason therefore why she could not at least challenge for what would be her most significant title to date.

Lee’s consistency is perhaps her greatest asset, recording seven top 3 finishes in addition to her most recent victory over the past two years.

If she is able to win this week’s event she will join Jan Stephenson, Karrie Webb and Hannah Green as Australia’s female major championship winners.

Lee is joined in the field by fellow Australians, Hannah Green, Katherine Kirk, Su Oh, Sarah Jane Smith, 2019 US Amateur Champion and the runner-up in the same championship two week’s ago, Gabriela Ruffels, Sarah Kemp, Stephanie Kyraciou and Whitney Hillier.

 

 

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