Minjee Lee with her hard earned trophy – image PGA of America
Minjee Lee has joined Jan Stephenson as Australia’s second most successful winner of female major titles (3) with a three-shot victory over Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen and Auston Kim at the KPGM Women’s PGA Championship in Frisco near Dallas in Texas, the victory moving her and Stephenson behind only Karrie Webb’s amazing seven major titles.
It was Lee’s 11th LPGA Tour title and her cheque for US$1.8 million will take her career earnings on the LPGA Tour to nearly US$17.5 million.
There were, however, times during today’s final round when her four-shot 54-hole lead came under threat. Three bogeys in her opening six holes brought her back to the field somewhat, although those chasing were also feeling the demands of the Fields Ranch East layout.
A birdie at the 9th settled things a little but a bogey at the 10th had her only two ahead before birdies at the 14th and 15th moved her four clear and even though she bogeyed the 16th she had done enough to enjoy the final two holes and win by three over Wannasaen and American Auston Kim.
Kim and Wannasaen both recorded the best rounds of the day (68) to move from a share of 10th into their tie for 2nd place, reducing their nine-shot 54-hole deficit to just three at the finish.
For Lee, it was her first win on the LPGA Tour since her 10th LPGA Tour title at the Kroger Queen City Championship in July of 2023.
“A lot of patience out there today,” said Lee when asked about how she managed to win again. “Obviously I had ups and downs today, and I just felt like some shots were going my way and some shots weren’t. I knew some opportunities were coming down the stretch to make some birdies and close the gap a little bit. Yeah, I just played my very best.
“I just said, just stick to my game plan. I know, it’s a battle against myself pretty much, especially with how tough the conditions were this whole week, not just today; just amplified because it’s major Sunday. Yeah, just be patient and take every shot as it comes.”
Several of Lee’s family and friends were present to witness the victory and she acknowledged their support
“I mean, my parents have sacrificed so much for me to be in this position. You know, I can’t say more things than I’m already thankful. Yeah, it’s just extra special that I could win in front of them. Obviously, wherever Min Woo is, he’s supporting me out there. He’s a social media nut, so he’s on top of that.
“So it is really cool and obviously my dad is back in Oz. I don’t know what time it is there, but he’s tuning in and they always have my back. So it’s really nice and it’s great support and unconditional.”
The win opens up discussion on the possibility of Lee joining the LPGA Tour’s Hall of Fame and it is a goal that has been very much one of Lee’s long-term aspirations.
“I mean, that is my ultimate goal. I really wanted to be in the Hall of Fame. That’s why I started golf. That’s why I wanted to be on the LPGA Tour, to, you know, win a bunch of tournaments and try to get into it.
“Seeing Lydia do it, I think I would really like to get there. We’ll see how we go after this week.”
Lydia Ko improved 14 places with her last round of 71 to finish in a share of 14th to be the next best of the Australasians.
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Mark Hensby shares opening day lead at US Senior Open
Mark Hensy in action today – image Kathryn Riley USGA
Australia’s Mark Hensby was a frustrated golfer after the opening round of the US Senior Open at the Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs but his opening round of 3 under par of 67 has given him a share of the lead as the field in the game’s most significant event for senior golfers heads into round two.
Hensby had reason to be annoyed, given his faltering back nine after an outstanding opening nine of 30 had him well clear of the field. Five bogeys and two birdies on his way home, including dropped shots at each of the last two, however, led to him leading at the close of his morning round before, late in the day, Padraig Harrington, would join him at 3 under.
The pair is a shot clear of a group of seven players at 2 under 68, with another eight at 69, making a total of 17 players under par on the demanding layout high in the Southern Rocky Mountains, nearly 6300 feet above sea level.
It is not the altitude adjustment that provided frustration for Hensby, however, but rather the greens where slope and mountain influence, made picking less than obvious lines very demanding.
“It’s difficult,” said Hensby. “The greens are where all the problem is. But yeah, it’s a hard golf course from around the greens.
“Just the slope. I mean, there’s so much slope, and it all comes off that mountain most of the time. Sometimes it doesn’t. But yeah, the greens were softer today, so it kind of made it a little bit easier and probably not as fast as they can get.
“But you put the pins in certain spots, it’s pretty tough.”
Hensby did not hold back when expressing his feelings on a poor finish to what had been a brilliant start.
“Yeah, obviously I felt like I lost some out there. It’s just frustrating. I played like shit the back nine. What else can you say?
“But I’ve never been a very consistent player. I’m hot or cold, and that kind of sucks. Certain shots I keep hitting during rounds, it just pisses me off, so to speak. So yeah, the back nine was just kind of a bit of that.”
“The front nine on this nine, this course is pretty short. The back nine is a totally different nine. I just took advantage of all the short shots that I had on the front nine.”
Hensby, though, has proven in the past that he has the game to contend at this level. In 2022, he finished third behind his co-leader Padraig Harrington.
New Zealand’s Steve Alker is two from the lead at 1 under 69 while Rod Pampling and Greg Chalmers are the next best of the 13-strong Australasian contingent at even par.
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Large Australasian field tackles US Senior Open
Australia’s Richard Green during last year’s US Senior Open where he finished 3rd – image USGA
The world of men’s over-fifty golf plays its second major in succession when the US Senior Open is played at the Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs from this Thursday.
Generally considered the most significant event in golf for those over fifty, the championship now carries a purse of US$4 million. The defending champion is Richard Bland of England, who added this title to the Senior PGA Championship he won a month earlier in 2024.
From 2585 initial entries, the field has been reduced to the 156 who will face the starter on Thursday.
Australasia carries a strong numerical representation in 2025, with 13 participants from our part of the world taking part, having qualified through their performances worldwide or via the Final Qualifying process, in which Brendan Jones, Matthew Goggin, and New Zealand’s Richard Lee earned their right to play.
Steve Alker, Steve Allan, Stuart Appleby, Michael Campbell, Greg Chalmers, Matthew Goggin, Richard Green, Scott Hend, Mark Hensby, Brendan Jones, Richard Lee, Rod Pampling and Cameron Percy make up a strong challenge for a title won previously by only one Australasian, Graham Marsh. Marsh also finished runner-up in the event three years before his win in 1997.
The course is one of the longest on the PGA Tour Champions in terms of actual yardage, but that length is offset somewhat by the altitude of Colorado Springs (6000 feet), where the thin air ensures the ball travels up to 10% further.
Steve Alker narrowly missed out on winning the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship last week when losing a playoff to Miguel Angel Jimenez and amongst the Australasians he appears to be the best hope of victory.
Richard Green, Cameron Percy and Mark Hensby, have all played well this season and have their chances, with Green also finishing in 3rd place behind Bland last year.
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Steve Alker narrowly misses second major title
Steve Alker – file photo courtesy of PGA of America
New Zealand’s Steve Alker and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez were locked in an intense battle throughout the 72 holes of the Kaulig Companies Championship at the Firestone Country Club’s South Course in Akron, Ohio, but 61 year old Jimenez emerged the winner after holing a 20 foot birdie putt at the second extra hole of a playoff to win his 4th event of the season.
The pair were tied through 54 holes, and although Alker looked in control of a second major title with just a few holes to play, Jimenez birdied the final two holes of regulation play to force the event into extra time.
For Jimenez, it was his 17th PGA Tour Champions title, and he races well clear of Alker in the race for the Schwab Cup standings.
For Alker, it was his 7th top-five finish of the season and his second runner-up, but a second major to go with his 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship eluded him.
“I had a chance to win the golf tournament,” said Alker. “It was some sloppy golf in the middle, I had to kind of mentally battle through some missed fairways and some sloppy golf in the middle, but I was really proud of how I kind of come down the stretch. I hit the last like five fairways or something and five greens and just gave myself chances. Yeah, I’m proud of that.
“You know, he made the plays. I hit a great putt on 17, I thought I made the putt on 17 in regulation and that would have given me just that little two-shot cushion. Yeah, he made the plays coming down the stretch. You look back and you go jeez, a bogey here or there, you know what I mean? I think Firestone got me. I think I had two bogeys every day. Just can’t do that around here.”
Alker, though, added another US$308,000 to his already significant earnings for the season, taking them to US1.6 million.
Jiminez is playing some of his best golf of his PGA Tour Champions career, eleven years after first joining and winning in 2014.
“Well, it’s very special,” said Jimenez.”I played very well this year, but coming in this third major of the year, I’ve been playing very well. This week I win here and put my name on the side of all great names through the history of the golf tournament here on this beautiful golf course, probably one of the better golf courses we’ll play all year. No words to explain, fantastic.”
Michael Wright and Richard Green were the next best of the Australasians when they shared 7th place, a double bogey at the last proving costly for Wright, who also finished 7th in this event last year.
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Jason Day ties for 4th at Travelers Championship
Jason Day – file photo Australian Golf Media
Jason Day has indicated he is returning to his best with a share of 3rd place at the Travelers Championship, one of the now Signature events on the PGA Tour.
Day finished two shots behind the winner, Keegan Bradley, who produced a two-shot swing over Tommy Fleetwood at the final hole to win by one over the luckless Fleetwood, who was denied his first PGA Tour victory with bogeys at his 16th and 18th holes.
Day’s chance of victory was finally brought undone when he missed the fairway at the par 4 17th and was forced to lay up, the resultant bogey dropping him two behind, and although he parred the last he could only finish with a round of 68 and a share of 4th place with Harris English.
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Day did, though, finish one shot ahead of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, who both recorded final rounds of 65 to finish in a share of 6th place and earns US$880,000.
The finish equals Day’s best finish of the season, and he moves back inside the top 30 into 28th place in the World ranking after being outside the top 30 for all of the season to date.
Ryan Fox continued his great run with a share of 17th place, his final round of 66 not quite enough to break clear of an 8 way tie for his final placing.
Fox will, however, pick up another US$252,000 to add to his significant earnings over the past six weeks or so and he remains in 30th position in the world ranking and in 26th place in the FedEx Cup standings.
Bradley’s win came after he stood three behind Fleetwood standing on the 15th green. Birdies at the drivable 15th and his brilliant wedge to the last to set up one final birdie were enough to edge past the Englishman who was long with his tee shot at the 16th and bogeyed then bogeyed the last from just off the front of the green.
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Minjee Lee wins third major title with KPMG Women’s PGA Championship victory
Minjee Lee with her hard earned trophy – image PGA of America
Minjee Lee has joined Jan Stephenson as Australia’s second most successful winner of female major titles (3) with a three-shot victory over Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen and Auston Kim at the KPGM Women’s PGA Championship in Frisco near Dallas in Texas, the victory moving her and Stephenson behind only Karrie Webb’s amazing seven major titles.
It was Lee’s 11th LPGA Tour title and her cheque for US$1.8 million will take her career earnings on the LPGA Tour to nearly US$17.5 million.
There were, however, times during today’s final round when her four-shot 54-hole lead came under threat. Three bogeys in her opening six holes brought her back to the field somewhat, although those chasing were also feeling the demands of the Fields Ranch East layout.
A birdie at the 9th settled things a little but a bogey at the 10th had her only two ahead before birdies at the 14th and 15th moved her four clear and even though she bogeyed the 16th she had done enough to enjoy the final two holes and win by three over Wannasaen and American Auston Kim.
Kim and Wannasaen both recorded the best rounds of the day (68) to move from a share of 10th into their tie for 2nd place, reducing their nine-shot 54-hole deficit to just three at the finish.
For Lee, it was her first win on the LPGA Tour since her 10th LPGA Tour title at the Kroger Queen City Championship in July of 2023.
“A lot of patience out there today,” said Lee when asked about how she managed to win again. “Obviously I had ups and downs today, and I just felt like some shots were going my way and some shots weren’t. I knew some opportunities were coming down the stretch to make some birdies and close the gap a little bit. Yeah, I just played my very best.
“I just said, just stick to my game plan. I know, it’s a battle against myself pretty much, especially with how tough the conditions were this whole week, not just today; just amplified because it’s major Sunday. Yeah, just be patient and take every shot as it comes.”
Several of Lee’s family and friends were present to witness the victory and she acknowledged their support
“I mean, my parents have sacrificed so much for me to be in this position. You know, I can’t say more things than I’m already thankful. Yeah, it’s just extra special that I could win in front of them. Obviously, wherever Min Woo is, he’s supporting me out there. He’s a social media nut, so he’s on top of that.
“So it is really cool and obviously my dad is back in Oz. I don’t know what time it is there, but he’s tuning in and they always have my back. So it’s really nice and it’s great support and unconditional.”
The win opens up discussion on the possibility of Lee joining the LPGA Tour’s Hall of Fame and it is a goal that has been very much one of Lee’s long-term aspirations.
“I mean, that is my ultimate goal. I really wanted to be in the Hall of Fame. That’s why I started golf. That’s why I wanted to be on the LPGA Tour, to, you know, win a bunch of tournaments and try to get into it.
“Seeing Lydia do it, I think I would really like to get there. We’ll see how we go after this week.”
Lydia Ko improved 14 places with her last round of 71 to finish in a share of 14th to be the next best of the Australasians.
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Minjee Lee moves four clear at KPMG Women’s PGA
Minjee Lee hits her tee shot at the opening hole today – image courtesy of PGA of America
Minjee Lee has put together an outstanding performance on day three of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Frisco in Texas, and in the process has opened up a four-shot lead over the woman she trailed by one through 36 holes, Jeeno Thitikul.
As strong winds buffeted the Fields Ranch East layout, Lee recorded three birdies and no bogeys in her round of 69 to take a four shot lead over Thailand’s Thitikul, that pair the only two players under par for 54 holes to date, the third placed golfers, Japan’s Miyu Yamashita, Korean Hye-Jin Choi and Lexi Thompson now seven shots behind Lee and three behind Thitikul.
Lee, therefore, has an outstanding opportunity to claim a third major championship title to add to her 2021 Evian Masters and 2022 US Women’s Open victories.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” said Lee. “I think I played really well within myself today. Took the birdies when I could and made really great up and downs when I was out of position.”
I mean, it feels really big,” added Lee referring to her current lead. “I think obviously major Sunday is a different story. This is round three, so I think, you know, I have to still dig deep and post a score even with a four-shot lead.
“So I’m just going to put my head down and just work on the things that I can do and do it to the best of my ability, that’s what I’m going to focus on.”
“I mean, major Sunday is like no other, so regardless of where you are I don’t think you’re really ever in a comfortable position until you’re holding that trophy.
“I’ve had both experiences of leading and coming from behind and I’m sure both of them will help me tomorrow. Yeah, just going to do my very best.”
As Lee was putting together her impressive round in the most difficult conditions on an already demanding Gil Hanse designed layout, the overnight leader Thitikul struggled with six bogeys and just two birdies in a round of 76 for a seven shot swing in Lee’s favour. Although Thitikul has five LPGA Tour wins to her name, she has yet to win a major and so Lee has the advantage of wins at this level on two occasions and therefore an added edge heading into tomorrow.
Sydney’s Grace Kim produced the best round of the day and one of only two in the 60’s when her 4 under par 68 which moved her a massive 58 places from the cutline to a share of 10th.
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Minjee Lee stays in touch at KPMG Women’s PGA
Minjee Lee in action today – image courtesy of PGA of America
Minjee Lee remains in second place at the KitchenAid Women’s PGA Championship in Frisco in Texas, now sharing that position and three behind the lead after beginning the day just one back.
Lee added a second round of even par 72 on the demanding Fields Ranch East layout to join Japan’s Rio Takeda, the pair trailing Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul.
Lee recovered from an outward nine of 2 over 37 with a final nine of 2 under 35 to be well placed as she chases a third major title.
“Yeah, I felt like I started a little bit shaky,” said Lee. “Turned in 2-over and I knew there were few opportunities on the front nine to make a couple birdies.
“I just tried to stay patient out there. It was really windy and quite hard to hold — even hold the greens on some of them.
“So, yeah, I just tried to, you know, stay within myself and just be smart and play to my advantages.
“I think it’s going to be windy the whole weekend, too, so I mean, it’s probably going to be similar direction, so I think we kind of know what to expect now.
“So it will be whoever has the best recovery in this heat and also who doesn’t make like soft bogeys maybe because it’s been so hot and you’ve been — it’s a really slow round, so I think you just got to try and focus as best you can and I think that’s what is really — that’s the person who is going to at the end of the week hold the trophy.”
Stephanie Kyriacou is the next best of the Australasians in a share of 25th place at 3 over and nine from the lead after a round of 75 today.
Former champion Hannah Green and Lydia Ko share 36th place at 4 over, Karis Davidson is at 5 over, while Grace Kim, Gabi Ruffels and Hira Naveed cut the number at 7 over in the US$ 12 million event.
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Jason Day finds form at Travelers Championship
Jason Day – file photo image courtesy of USGA
Jason Day is just one behind the leaders, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood at the halfway stage of the Travelers Championship at the TPC River Highlands near Hartford, a second consecutive round of 66 leaving the Australian well placed for one of the big cheques at week’s end, if not a 14th PGA Tour title.
A closing nine of 31 moved Day very much into contention in the Signature event, although he will need to get past two of the hottest players on the PGA Tour this season, Scheffler, Thomas and Fleetwood, who is still chasing a first PGA Tour title.
Day does not enjoy a great record in this event with a best of 8th in 9 previous starts and a best of 44th in his last three, but he has found something this week.
I got off to a bit of a rough start,” said Day. “I shouldn’t say that. I birdied the first hole. But I kind of missed — I started leaving a lot out to the right, got a little bit ahead of it.
“It was really difficult to have a correct warmup today because of the 40-mile-per-hour gusts left to right on the range. When it’s windy, typically — pretty much everyone, I would say a majority of the guys out there get really fast with their tempo, so it’s very difficult to time everything correctly because you’re obviously battling the elements and trying to hit a shot. Evveryone gets a little bit quick, especially in transition.
“Then the back nine was a lot better for me because I started to — I found my groove a little bit. We got down through 10, 11, 12, and there wasn’t as much wind, and I hit a few shots and started trusting the swing again, and then obviously had a great finish.
“When you’re coming out of a U.S. Open, you kind of — I typically would take the week off, so it was very difficult for me to miss this one. And mind you, with some injuries I’ve had, I’ve missed two Signature Events, and I’m a little behind the — this is my 12th event for the year. So it’s kind of difficult. I’m a little bit in catch-up mode right now, so I’ve got to try and play as much as I can.”
Ryan Fox is the next best of the Australasians in a share of 35th place at even par after his second round of 71 highlighted by an eagle at the 13th hole.
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Steve Alker chasing second Champions Tour major
Steve Alker – file photo courtesy of USGA
While New Zealand’s Steve Alker has been one of the most dominant figures on the PGA Tour Champions since joining in August of 2021, he has just the one Senior major title to his name in that time.
This weekend, he gets the chance to add another after his opening 36 holes of the Kaulig Companies Championship at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, have him sharing the halfway lead with Argentinian Ricardo Gonzalez and American Tim Petrovic.
Alker’s only win in a senior major came when winning the Kitchen Aid Senior PGA Championship in 2022. Although there has been several near misses since, that second major has eluded the 53-year-old.
Alker’s second round of 67 was perhaps disappointing in that he made a fast start with four birdies in his first six holes, but, the demanding and lengthy Firestone Country Club layout bared its teeth over the closing stages and he finds himself in that share of the lead as he chases not only his second major but a 10th PGA Tour Champions title.
“I’m just really trying to get into the process right now. I had some close calls this year again, I had some seconds and thirds and stuff,” said Alker. “Just trying to knuckle down and just focus on me a little bit more, just try and hit my shots. I know the game’s there, it’s good enough, it’s just making a few more putts. That’s kind of what I’m focusing on now.”
The Firestone Country Club has a reputation as one of the more demanding layouts the PGA Tour Champions will play this year, but Alker enjoys the challenge.
“You’ve got to have all facets of your game going. It’s a major, right? There’s some rough out there and it’s a long golf course, a lot of long irons. You’ve just got to knuckle up and play good, and I like that. Maybe three or four times a year is good, but I enjoy coming here. They look after us great, and the golf course is great. Yeah, it’s just a good test, love it.”
Amongst the other Australasians in the field, Richard Green and Michael Wright are next best, in a tie for 6th and three from the lead and Mark Hensby is in 9th place at 1 under par and just four off the halfway lead.
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Minjee Lee starts Women’s PGA Championship well
Minjee Lee consults with her caddie today – image Ryan Lochhead PGA of America
Minjee Lee has made an encouraging start to the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Frisco in Texas, her opening round of 3 under par 69 leaving her one behind Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul and alone in second position.
Lee, who played in the morning draw on day one, bogeyed her opening hole but produced four birdies before the turn, before playing the homeward nine in even par for her solid start.
“I putted really great today,” said Lee. “I made a lot of birdie putts and a whole bunch of up and down par putts as well. I mean, my iron game was pretty solid as well, but I think I need to sharpen up my drives a little bit. But then I think I felt quite good today.”
Lee was asked how much tougher it is to win a major now than was the case several years ago when she won the two titles she now has to her name.
“I think just the depth of the fields has gotten much stronger. I think when I first started, it was a bit more top-heavy, and now all the girls can compete; everybody is much more competitive.
“I think over my 10, 11 years, it’s just a lot more girls from like overseas are coming to play in America and on the LPGA, so I think that’s been a big difference. I just think everybody is hungrier. They’re younger and more fierce and just aggressive — obviously on the course; not as people.”
“I just think they’re not afraid. Yeah, I feel like that is more the theme now than it used to be.”
The event is being played at the Gil Hanse designed Fields Ranch East in Frisco, Texas, and the layout is proving to be a handful for the field including Lee who has local knowledge given she lives close by.
“Obviously it’s different. The rough is much thicker. If you hit it just off the fairways, you can — I mean, I’m thankful for the volunteers because I couldn’t find my ball some of the times.
“Yeah, pretty much you can only see maybe a third of the ball. “Just the top. So when I came to practice it was a little bit more dormant so the rough hadn’t quite come in yet. Yeah, I think that’s the big difference.
“The greens are a little bit quicker and it’s set up for tournament play now and before it was just the members could still play and we could play, so it was not the same at all.”
Stephanie Kyriacou is the next best of the Australasians in a share of 16th place after her opening round of even par.
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