“My game plan is to do everything in my control, obviously, and play aggressive and have fun,” stated Minjee Lee, preparing for the 2024 Buick LPGA Shanghai. Known for her fierce style, the golfer is ranked 7 on the CME Points Rank. Not bad for her, given her ongoing career slump. She entered the season on the 13th rank with her last trophy won at the 2023 Kroger Queen City Championship.

It has been almost a year since. However, there is no doubt that she is an exceptional golfer. Earlier in January, she was approached by Malbon Golf, a lifestyle brand rocking the golf apparel industry. The company is dedicated to expanding diversity and inclusivity within the sport. It welcomed the two-time major champion Minjee Lee as its newest ambassador, reinforcing its forward-thinking approach.

The Australian golfer joined a distinguished lineup that included Charley Hull, Jason Day, and Jesper Parnevik. Her addition further cemented Malbon’s reputation for designs that suit dynamic performers. On the latest episode of The Par 3 Podcast, Stephen Malbon (co-founder  Malbon Golf) shared his admiration for LPGA star, Minjee Lee, praising both her talent and competitive fire. He spoke about the raw, real, and rising female talent in the sport. “Those girls can really play—they’re special, bro. It’s incredible.” J.R. Smith recalled seeing him participate in a pro-am event with Lee and getting updates from Billy Horschel.

He had already been familiar with her game, having recently signed her to a deal. “She’s just the best. Minjee is the best, right? She’s so dope.” What stood out to him most was how effortlessly she could switch between being relaxed and completely locked in. One moment, she could be chatting casually, and the next, hitting a perfect shot without hesitation. “She’s really down-to-earth and chill, but at the same time, you can tell she’s a gamer. Like, just a killer out there.” Malbon also described how serious Lee became when she wasn’t playing well. He had known her for years, often seeing her at the Evian Championship, where she had previously won. He had witnessed her frustration after a tough round, watching her practice on the putting green for hours in silence. “I’ve seen her play bad and then go to the putting green and putt for like two hours by herself, not saying a word. Just like, ‘Don’t look at me’ angry. Her mom’s scared of her. The LPGA players are scared of her. She does not like playing bad, you know?”

Her competitive fire was on full display during a recent tournament in China, where she chipped in five times—three of them for eagle. Malbon laughed as he recalled how her younger brother, Min Woo Lee, had given her the perfect nickname: Dr. Chipinski. Every time she holed out, it was as if she was writing a prescription. “She’s chipping in for eagle and doing this like, ‘Someone calls the doctor!’” Malbon’s admiration for Lee was clear—she wasn’t just one of the best, but also one of the fiercest competitors in the game.

But, who knows her better than her brother? Min Woo Lee had unintentionally revealed the reason behind his superstar sister’s surprising slump in form after what had been the most outstanding season of her career. Following a fourth-place finish at the Women’s Open, just two months after securing her second major title at the 2022 U.S. Open, Minjee Lee struggled through a rough patch – missing three consecutive cuts and failing to crack the top 30 in 10 LPGA Tour events. So, what caused this, and what does he feel about his over-achieving sister?

Min Woo Lee is not much worried about Minjee Lee’s bad form

Be it Jessica Korda & Nelly Korda, or the Koepka siblings, familial competition always makes up for some goofy one-on-ones. These relations reveal things that are left unsaid. In this case, the sudden decline in Minjee’s performance was as dramatic as it was unexpected. Many analysts attributed the drop to exhaustion after a demanding season, one that had brought her two major victories, the LPGA’s majors player-of-the-year honors, and a rise to World No. 2. However, her younger brother, Min Woo Lee, later disclosed that Minjee’s struggles had stemmed from severe putting issues that could have jeopardized her career.

Despite his own success, he remained somewhat in the shadow of his sister in what was considered one of the most remarkable sibling duos in golf. His Australian PGA Championship victory at Royal Queensland marked his second win in four starts, following his triumph at the Macau Open the previous month. Minjee had also claimed two victories in four starts before concluding another strong season with a tie for eighth at the elite Tour Championship in Florida. Speaking ahead of the Australian Open in Sydney, where both siblings were among the marquee names, Min Woo reflected on their uncanny ability to win in tandem.

“It’s funny because every time I win, it seems like next week she wins,” he remarked. “So, if you guys want to put some money on my sister winning next week, you’ll probably win.” He acknowledged that having family bragging rights over the holiday season would be a fun bonus if she didn’t claim another title soon. However, he emphasized that his main focus remained on reaching his full potential, while recognizing Minjee’s unique talent.

“She’s one of a kind. She’s a really great golfer, and she’s not slowing down,” he said. “She knows she slowed down early in the year, but she’s found a way to win again (after) near career-ending kind of putter yips, and now she’s slowly overcoming that.” After securing his fourth professional win, Min Woo admitted that he aspired to reach the top of the world rankings. He had climbed to a career-high No. 38 but acknowledged that surpassing Minjee (ranked fifth in the world then), would be difficult. Still, he wasn’t overly concerned about it. “It’s pretty special to see that hard work really pays off. That’s not a secret to anyone. She’s always worked hard, and hopefully, I can follow in her footsteps and keep winning tournaments,” he said.

As both siblings continue their rise in the golf world, all eyes will be on what’s next. Will Minjee reclaim her dominance? Or will Min Woo surpass her on the leaderboard? Stay tuned.