‘Lot of Grit’: After Her $470,000 Redemption, Minjee Lee Boldly States Why She Is Force to Be Reckoned With

After her third round at the Kroger Queen City Championship, Minjee Lee opened up about her hardships this season. She was unsure if one could have two incredible years in a row. LPGA pro Lydia Ko might relate to her. However, the Australian golfer brushed off any doubts as took charge of the game in the final round and came out of Cincinnati as a winner!

Minjee Lee beat Charley Hull in a playoff on Sunday after recovering from losing a five-shot lead. It marked her second playoff victory on the LPGA Tour and her first win this season. Her last round was nothing short of a brilliant sight. And Lee agrees with that review!

Minjee Lee defines herself as a player and opponent

Going into the final round, the Australian golfer held a two-stroke lead at Kenwood Country Club. At one stage, she led by as many as five. But her advantage disappeared over the back nine despite carding just one bogey.

Charley Hull closed the gap by overcoming two bogeys on the back nine and shooting three consecutive birdies. In a showdown, she and Hull spent the entire day playing with each other.

Impressed, the reporter was stunned by Lee’s confidence in the final round. And her confidence shot up just like her game: “I guess I just have a lot of grit. Coming down the stretch, I never give up, and I like to think that I’m always putting pressure on my opponents and not giving it up too easily.” Clearly, Lee thinks she is a great opponent to play against.

She continued her views on her game and why she deserved the $470k playoff payout. “So I think I just have a great fight in me and really great resilience.” It is fulfilling to see players appreciate their own gameplay and form. And why not? Lee was in control of the situation and won during the sudden-death playoff. She deserves to have her moment. What do you think?

While Charley Hull shot a 69 in Cincinnati, the Australian golfer carded one-under 71 to end at 16-under-par total. And then came the playoffs. The golf world was on edge during the 2-hole face-off. As both managed pars on the first hole, a second playoff ensued, where both the players missed the fairway left.

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However, Lee focused on a solid pitching wedge from the rough. It left the Australian with a five-footer leading to the tournament-winning birdie. She made it through, winning her first title of the season and ninth overall.

Win caps the icing on the cake on a neutral season for Lee

Minjee Lee sat second in the Cognizant Founders Cup earlier this May. The Greater Toledo LPGA Classic is the only tournament where she finished in the top ten. When considering finishing in the top 15, Lee refuses to keep that as a benchmark for herself.

One of the reasons for a slow season, as she stated, was immense self-induced pressure. She wanted to achieve brilliance with every match. However, the Australian golfer had to understand she was only human. It was heartbreaking for the fans to witness her drop to the 50th position during the AIG Women’s Open. They must be soaring high after her first win!

Lee believes that re-setting her goals helped her perform better in the latter half of the season. She also called herself a one-shot-at-a-time kind of person. Do you think Minjee Lee’s approach to the game makes sense? And how did you like the playoffs between her and Charley Hull? Let us know in the comments below.