Minjee Lee Becomes Three-Time Major Champion With KPMG Women’s PGA Win

Dallas resident Minjee Lee secured her third major title on Sunday at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, finishing three shots ahead of Epson Tour graduate Auston Kim and two-time LPGA Tour champion Chanettee Wannasaen. This victory marks her first on the LPGA Tour since the 2023 BMW Ladies Championship.

Lee showcased remarkable composure during the final round at Fields Ranch East in PGA Frisco, expertly managing the pressure of the late tournament to finish with a 2-over 74. This score, which included five bogeys and three birdies, was commendable given the challenging, windy conditions in Frisco, Texas.

Starting the day at 6-under with a four-shot lead over Jeeno Thitikul, Lee’s advantage grew to five when Thitikul bogeyed the first hole. Although Lee dropped a shot on the par-5 3rd hole, she retained her five-stroke lead as Thitikul also bogeyed, bringing her back to even par. The Australian then made another bogey on the fifth hole, reducing her lead to four, and after bogeying the sixth, she fell to 3-under, now just three strokes ahead of five-time LPGA Tour winner Thitikul.

At the same time, Kim was making a charge up the leaderboard, scoring three consecutive birdies on the par-4 7th, par-3 8th, and par-5 9th holes, moving from 1-over to 1-under and closing the gap to two strokes behind two-time major champion Lee. Thitikul also made her first birdie of the day on the ninth hole, tying Kim at 1-under and sitting two strokes behind Lee, who remained steady at 3-under.

Playing a few groups ahead, Thitikul’s compatriot Wannasaen matched her and Kim after making an eagle on the drivable par-4 15th hole, bringing her to 1-under overall. She then parred the 16th and birdied the 17th, maintaining her 1-under position for the tournament, where she ultimately finished after shooting a final-round 68.

The 13th hole posed challenges for the final group, with Lee executing a crucial nine-foot par save to stay at 3-under, two shots clear of Kim and Wannasaen, while Thitikul made a bogey that effectively eliminated her from contention. The 22-year-old concluded her week at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship with a 3-over 75, tying for fourth at 1-over overall.

Lee appeared remarkably steady as she approached the final holes at Fields Ranch East, sinking a 9-footer on 14 to return to 4-under and then getting up and down for a birdie on 15, advancing to 5-under and leading by four with three holes left. She faltered with a bogey on the par-4 16th, dropping back to 4-under, but that late error was inconsequential. A couple of routine pars on 17 and 18 were sufficient for Lee to secure her 11th career victory and claim her third different major title, bringing the Aussie one win closer to the Career Grand Slam.

“It feels pretty amazing,” Lee expressed. “I feel like I really deserve this one. I put a lot of hard work into it. I feel really good.

With her victory at Fields Ranch East, Lee has become the fourth Australian woman to claim the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, joining the ranks of Hannah Green (2019), Jan Stephenson (1982), and Karrie Webb (2001). She is also the third Australian to secure three or more major titles on the LPGA Tour, alongside Webb (7) and Stephenson (3).

The Australian LPGA community holds a profound respect for the achievements of their fellow competitors. Given that both Webb and Stephenson are enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame, and that Green is one of her closest friends on Tour, Lee expressed immense gratitude for winning her third major title this week, just outside her adopted hometown in Texas.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Lee remarked while gazing at the trophy during her winning press conference. “All of them are such great golfers with remarkable careers. Obviously, Hannah is still competing on Tour with me, so it’s wonderful to have a friend who has also won this trophy. I think it’s fantastic to have my name alongside theirs. It’s pretty cool.”

Green was among the many players gathered on the 18th green to shower Lee with celebratory champagne, fully understanding the emotions her friend experienced while lifting the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship trophy, having achieved the same feat at Hazeltine. Next year, Green and Lee will share the spotlight as defending champions at that very venue, with Lee defending her championship title and Green aiming for a second major title at the course, which has not hosted a women’s major since that KPMG Women’s PGA six years ago.

Although she would have loved to be in Lee’s shoes on Sunday afternoon, Green was genuinely thrilled for Minjee, recognizing the significance of this victory for her fellow countrywoman and the effort she put in to reach this milestone.

“She has come close in several majors before,” Green remarked. “The U.S. (Women’s) Open likely stung her a bit last year, probably fueling her determination even more, so it’s incredible to see her name on another trophy. She has clearly demonstrated her skills with her new putter, putting exceptionally well this week. I hope she can savor this moment because it was a challenging week, mentally more than physically. I think we are all quite exhausted. I’m extremely proud of her.”

Kim and Wannasaen ended up tied for second at 1-under overall after both achieved the lowest 18-hole score of the tournament with their final-round 68s. This T2 finish marks each athlete’s best performance in a major championship, a remarkable feat considering the early stages of their careers, and both Kim and Wannasaen were immensely proud of their performances at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

“Feeling pretty good,” said Kim. “Obviously, the result was really good, but I’m really happy how I handled myself, my emotions, all the adversity. The course is playing really, really tough, but I feel like this week my team and I were very locked in, and we focused on all the right things. The result took care of itself.”

Japan’s Chisato Iwai tied for fourth with Rolex Rankings No. 2 Thitikul, while Miyu Yamashita and Angel Yin finished tied for sixth. Hye-Jin Choi and Somi Lee from the Republic of Korea tied for eighth at 3-over, and Wei-Ling Hsu and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard shared 10th at 4-over. Defending champion Amy Yang did not make the cut.