photo = AFP
Australian Korean-American Lee Min-ji (26, photo) won the US Women’s Open ($10 million in total prize money), the major event of the LPGA Tour, which took the most money in history. She took home $1.8 million (about $2.25 billion) in prize money and climbed to the top of the prize money rankings at once.
In the final round of the US Women’s Open held at Pine Needles Lodge & GC (par 71, 6644 yards) in Southern Pines, North Carolina, USA on the 6th (Korean time), Lee Min-ji hit an even par to record a final total of 13-under 271. She finished second and she won Mina Harigae (USA) by four strokes. It is her second major win, following her last year’s Evian Championship, and her eighth career win on her own tour.
The 271 shot recorded by Lee Min-ji is the new record for winning the US Women’s Open 72 holes. The record of 272 strokes held by Annika Sorenstam (Sweden) in 1996, Julie Ingster (USA) in 1999 and Inji Jeon (28) in 2015 was renewed for the first time in 7 years. As an Australian player, she is also the first US Women’s Open winner in 21 years since Carrie Webb (48).
photo = AP
Born in Perth, Australia in 1996, Lee Min-ji learned golf from her mother, Lee Seong-min, who dreamed of becoming a professional golfer. Seongmin Lee passed the first round of pro tests on the KLPGA tour in the early 1990s, but his professional dream was abandoned when he emigrated to Perth, Australia. That dream is being fulfilled by his children on the pro tour. With this win, Lee Min-ji took his second major cup. Lee Min-woo (24), who is active on the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour), is the younger brother of Lee Min-ji.
Lee Min-ji is a long hitter and has a sophisticated iron shot and putt. According to the LPGA, the average drive-shot distance this season is 271.77 yards (21st), 74.21% hit rate on the green (10th), and 1.72 putts on green (5th).
After winning the championship, Lee Min-ji said, “It was a competition I wanted to win since I was little, and my dream came true. The trophy that Carrie Webb, Lorena Ochoa (Mexico), and Sorenstam lifted seemed to look great.” “I can’t believe I won.” did. He continued, “I hope this victory will become an opportunity for many girls and boys (in Australia) to pay more attention to sports. I hope that I will become a good role model.”
As a Korean player, Hye-Jin “Rookie” Choi (23), who entered the LPGA this year, finished third with a final total of 7-under 277. World No. 1 Jin-young Ko, 27, hit her 6-under par 278 to finish her solo 4th place.
Reporter Jo Soo-young [email protected]
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