Minjee Lee heads Australasian hopes at AIG Women’s Open
Minjee Lee in action today – image Ladies European Tour
Minjee Lee leads the Australasians at the halfway mark of the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath in Surrey, England and although a massive seven shots from the leader, Ally Ewing of the USA, she is just two behind the second-placed golfers and tied for 9th.
Lee put together a strong second round of 69 to go with her opening round of even par 72 over the heathland layout west of London and is well poised in the event of Ewing who despite a bogey at her final hole today was round in 66 to open up a five-shot margin over the field.
Lee was satisfied with her round but is aware she needs to improve over the weekend if she is to contend for a third major title.
“Yeah, I mean, today was pretty steady, especially with the wind, I think I drove it really well, put myself in really better positions,” said the West Australian. “Probably a little bit disappointed in my shots into the greens, probably didn’t hit it close enough for those birdie putt ranges.
“But we always have a weekend. So, yeah, I’m really looking forward to it. I think she (Ewing) put two great scores up, and, yeah, we’re all chasing her at the moment. So I think we can be pretty aggressive. I can be pretty aggressive come the weekend.”
Ewing is a three-time LPGA Tour winner but the weekend offers an opportunity to win a major title and while she has dominated to date this week, things will likely tighten up over the final 36 holes.
In what has been a disappointing week for the Australasians overall, Grace Kim (28th) was the only other of the seven original starters to make the cut.
Stephanie Kriacou (74th), Lydia Ko and Sarah Kemp (89th) and Hannah Green and Kelsey Bennett (99th) will all miss the weekend.
For Ko, the current world #5, it continues a run of disappointing finishes of late and in this event also. She has not finished better than 33rd in any of her last seven events in 2023 and has recorded only two top tens in now 12 starts at the Women’s British Open.
