Australians Minjee and Min Woo Lee are the best pair of siblings in golf right now — especially the past two weeks — but apparently, there’s not much chatter when the two are together.
“I’d never say it to his face but he plays really well and I’m always really proud of him,” Minjee admitted Sunday.
However, after Min Woo captured the Asian Tour’s SJM Macao Open last week, the sibling rivalry ignited.
“Obviously it was great to see Min Woo win. I follow him every single event,” Minjee said. “Sure, it was a little motivation, and I knew I was coming in with pretty good form coming off last week.”
It seems like there was plenty of room in the global golf spotlight for both Lees.
Minjee entered the final round at the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea tied for the lead and posted a Sunday 68 to finish tied with American Alison Lee (no relation) at 16 under and head into a playoff.
The Australian Lee didn’t need more than one hole to seal the deal as she stuffed her approach on the first playoff hole to just a few feet and converted for her 10th LPGA Tour title. The win is the second in just over a month for Minjee after she held off Charley Hull to win the Kroger Queen City Championship last month.
There was also an added meaning to getting her first LPGA win in Asia.
“Out of all the places [to win], Korea was always at the top of my list because my parents are Korean and I have a heritage to Korea,” Minjee Lee said. “This one is special, and especially having all of my family and extended family and friends coming out to cheer for me today, it was really cool to see them on the sidelines when I was walking down.”
With Alison Lee, who started the day one shot behind, Minjee had to deal with another final round charge as she did a month ago.
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The American Lee made birdie on four of her final six holes, including the final two, to catch the Australian Lee who had pulled two shots ahead with three to play.
But after the pair returned to the tee at Seowon Valley Country Club, Minjee Lee delivered the dagger.
With Alison Lee already on the green, about 15 feet from the hole, Minjee Lee flew a wedge from 51 yards closer right at the flag stick and watched as it stuck like velcro within six feet from the cup.
Alison Lee’s birdie try never was high enough, clearing the stage for Minjee Lee’s walk-off.
“I just went out on the tee there and was like let’s just hit the fairway and hit a good shot in and hit a good putt,” Minjee said. “That was pretty much my thought process for the playoff hole, and it was nice to be able to make a birdie there.”
Lydia Ko finished in third at 14 under, two shots out of the playoff, for her best finish on the LPGA Tour since winning the CME Group Tour Championship last season. A week after her breakthrough victory in Shanghai, Angel Yin finished solo fourth at 13 under.