Fearless Minjee Lee on ‘path to greatness’

• Lee wins US Women’s Open thrashing Mina Harigae.
• She has won her career’s eighth LPGA championship.
• Lee’s brother is also a professional golfer.

Australia lauded Minjee Lee on Monday as “on the path to greatness” following her cool triumph at the US Women’s Open, which reduced her golfing brother Min Woo to tears.

Following her breakthrough at last year’s Evian Championship in France, the 26-year-old from Perth, Australia, won her second major title by four strokes in North Carolina.

Read more: Minjee Lee sets 54-hole record at US Women’s Open

But it was the manner in which the world’s fourth-ranked golfer accomplished the achievement under immense duress that earned her praise in her home country, as she finished with a 72-hole tournament record 13-under-par 271.

“Minjee Lee’s ruthless US Women’s Open victory proves this ‘kid from Perth’ is on the path to golf greatness,” a public broadcaster said.

“Her performance in the final round… at Pine Needles must rank among the greatest in Australian golf history.

“Lee was brilliant in establishing her 54-hole lead, but the mental strength and physical skill required to close out the victory as she did is hard to quantify.”

Read more: Minjee Lee, Mina Harigae share halfway lead in US Women’s Open

Lee, whose parents are from South Korea, won her eighth LPGA championship by defeating American Mina Harigae to collect a record $1.8 million first-place prize from a $10 million pot, the largest in the history of women’s golf.

Lee’s brother Min Woo is also a professional golfer who has won two times on the European Tour, and he was equally impressed by his older sister.

“This one hits hard. Tears in my eyes,” he tweeted alongside a picture of the pair as young children after phoning her during the trophy ceremony.

“So so proud. Just a kid from Perth. Two major wins to her name now.”

Lee had earned the right to be recognized as “one of Australia’s biggest sports stars,” according to the Sydney newspaper.

“Minjee Lee’s spectacular win in the United States Open should ensure her recognition level in Australia surges to a level appropriate for her exceptional performances,” the newspaper said in an opinion piece.

Read more: Lee Wins U.S. Womens’ Open, Record $1.8M

Her hometown newspaper concurred writing that she had joined “Australia’s all-time golf greats.”

Karrie Webb (twice) and Jan Stephenson are the only other Australians who have won the US Women’s Open.

In 2012, Lee won the US Girls’ Championship and the Australian Amateur. In 2013 and 2014, she made a seamless transition to the professional ranks.

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