It was a record-setting performance; Minjee Lee captured her second-career major championship on the LPGA Tour Sunday by winning the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open.
Lee’s 13-under 271 total set a new 72-hole scoring record at the U.S. Women’s Open. She won by four shots over Mina Harigae.
In the process Lee also won the biggest first-place prize in women’s golf, a cool $1.8 million (U.S.)
“It’s such a large sum, and I’m really honoured to be the first winner of it,” said Lee.
Lee’s victory at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club was her second of the season. She won the Cognizant Founders Cup in mid-May, and has finished outside the top-25 just once in nine starts so far this season.
She’s been the most complete player of 2022 as well, leading the Race to CME Globe and the Tour in Scoring Average.
“I mean, I’m speechless,” said Lee. “I can’t believe it right now. It’s super, super special and just a great honour (to win).
“It’s been my dream since I was a little girl. It’s the one that I always wanted to win. Now I’ve done it, and just feels amazing.”
Mina Hariage, who had the first-round lead, finished second at 9 under. She shot a 1-over 71 on Sunday. Hariage earned over $1-million for her runner-up result – the only event on Tour that offers a seven-figure pay-day or a non-win.
Hyejin Choi finished third, while world No.1 Jin Young Ko finished solo fourth and Lydia Ko finished solo fifth.
Nelly Korda, in her return after suffering from a blood clot earlier this year and needing to go through surgery, finished tied for 8th.
Golf Town Athlete Brooke Henderson, who was also returning to action after some time away, finished tied for 15th – it was Brooke’s second top-15 result in a row at a major championship.
Although Brooke has missed two cuts this season, when she has found the weekend she has consistently played well. Impressively enough, her tie for 15th this week was her lowest finish so far in 2022.
Brooke shot rounds of 72-73-68-73.
“I feel like all week I’ve been hitting the ball really well and continued to do that today but was able to make a few putts which was exciting,” said Brooke on Saturday. “To get it under par on the weekend is really cool.”
Brooke said she was feeling “much better” and was happy to be back in action this week. She’ll play the next three weeks in a row on the LPGA Tour, including the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, which Brooke won in 2016.
“A lot healthier it’s just fun to be out here again. Nelly (Korda) mentioned it in her press conference when you can’t play or you have a break you realize how grateful you are when you have the opportunity to go out and play and compete against the best in the world and play in major championships like the U.S. Women’s Open,” said Brooke. “I’m just really happy to be back out.”
Fellow Canadian Maude-Aimee Leblanc finished 70th. Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C., who qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open as an amateur, missed the cut.