Minjee Lee, the Australian golfer residing in nearby Irving, made headlines on Saturday as she seized the lead in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Her impressive third-round performance saw her card a 3-under 69, propelling her four strokes ahead of her nearest competitor, Jeeno Thitikul. Lee pulled off an incredible accomplishment this round. She posted the tournament’s only bogey-free round during some tough windy conditions.
Lee began the day three back of Thitikul. Thanks to her even-keeled style, she navigated her way to 6-under 210 marking the lowest total score and par of the championship. She drove the track with a level of accuracy we rarely see. Following eight straight pars, she notched a clinching 4-foot birdie at the ninth hole. She took that momentum all the way through the back nine. There, she featured her touch on an exquisite 18-foot birdie on the par 5 14th hole and drained a short-range tilt at the par 4 15th – one guarded by bunkers.
For Lee, the most important moment came at the 405-yard 12th hole. She sunk a two-foot par save, evidence of her awesome ability to keep it cool in tense moments. She hit a snag at the 11th hole, missing a 4-foot par opportunity to the right of the hole. Other than this small hiccup on the day, Lee was impressive and consistent all day long.
The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship has proven a stiff test, as higher winds have added difficulty to an already demanding layout. Lee stood out from the pack and completely stole the show. With her, only Andrea managed to score under-par, a testament to how tough this course has been all week. It was her ability to keep her eyes on the prize and prevent those precious bogeys that truly distinguished Lee from the rest of the field.
This victory continues Lee’s extraordinary run of success having already won two major championships, the U.S. Women’s Open in 2022 and the British Women’s Open in 2021. Her experience on the front lines of high-pressure advocacy clearly comes through. Her solid play throughout Saturday’s round not only reflects her skill but her mental fortitude as she approaches the final day of competition.
Lee now has a nearly insurmountable lead! She’ll surely be looking to repeat her excellent Sunday performance as she looks for her second major victory. As the tournament progresses, eyes will be upon her. Will she be able to hold off close competitors such as Thitikul and capture the championship title?
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