World No.3 golfer Minjee Lee is banking on embracing the pressure of being the star attraction at this year’s Australian Women’s Open in Adelaide.
Perth product Lee, the reigning Greg Norman medallist, was on Tuesday confirmed as a starter in the March 12-15 event at Kooyonga
“I always feel a little extra pressure, and also I put a little more pressure on myself to contend and to have a good result,” Lee said.
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“It just comes with it being our national Open. Sometimes you can’t control it, sometimes you can.
“Every Aussie Open, I feel like I experience a little bit of that. It’s a good problem to have.”
Despite having won three majors, including last year’s Women’s PGA Championship in Texas, Lee is yet to taste Australian Open success.
The most recent Australian triumph at the women’s national Open was in 2014 at Victoria Golf Club, where Karrie Webb claimed the crown.
“It’s an event I would love to win in my career and hopefully I can have a good crack at it this year,” Lee said.
“I’ve come close before, but it’s going to be difficult against the field that I’ll be up against.”
It’s a field that includes fellow Australian Grace Kim, who last year also won a major – the Evian Championship.
WPGA Tour of Australasia chief executive Karen Lunn said having Lee and Kim returning to the Australian Open as current major champions was “something truly special”.
“It will be a great chance to celebrate their achievements,” Lunn said.
“Our Australian women are achieving extraordinary success on the global stage.
Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland said Lee would further boost a “great field of female golfers” at the event.
“Minjee had an incredible 2025 and is one of the most successful athletes in Australian sport,” Sutherland said.
“Her participation is a huge boost to the event’s standing on the international calendar. As one of the best golfers in the world, Minjee’s presence reinforces the event’s prestige, and the special opportunity for fans to see world-class golf on home soil.”
Lee admitted that backing up her impressive 2025 might be “difficult”, but felt it was attainable.
“It’s mostly about perspective, (and) where you put your focus,” she said.
“It’s more process-based than results-based now, and that will help me get to the results.
“I try to build my schedule where I think I can peak in the majors. They are always in the back of my mind.
“Right now I’m just focused on getting everything technically sound and getting back to playing form.”
— NCA NewsWire
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