Minjee Lee & Min Woo Lee: Golf’s Amazing Duo’s Sibling Rivalry, Life, and Career Achievements Explored

The Land Down Under has been a treasure of mine for sporting families making their name nationally and internationally. Take, for example, the famous rugby duo of the 80s, Mark and Glen, the Mark and Steve twins taking Australian cricket to newer heights, and the Campbell siblings taking home the gold medal at the Olympics. Australian history is filled with many athletic family duos, and another pair will be added soon to the history books.

From the land of Kangaroos to that of the Grand Canyon, Minjee Lee and Min Woo Lee are the current superstars in the golf world, taking all the attention away. The Lee siblings, though both golfers, are quite different in their playing style and even where they are in their careers. Has the rivalry ever affected their relationship? Let’s explore the healthy and goofy dynamic between the Lee siblings.

Start of Minjee Lee and Min Woo Lee’s career

The journey of Minjee and Min Woo Lee with golf started because of their parents. Their father, Soo Nam Lee, was an avid golfer in South Korea, whereas Clara Lee, their mother, was an actual golf coach. After moving to Australia, Soo Nam became a swimming teacher, and Clara remained on the greens. Thus, the two siblings started learning more about golf.

Minjee Lee started playing golf when she was only 8 or 9 years old when she visited the Royal Fremantle Golf Course. Then, at 12, the older Lee began playing junior events. She quickly showcased her talent and shot rounds in the ’60s, as her coach, Richie Smith, explained. Minjee Lee was flourishing in her career, and then three years later, she moved to America for her first big win.

Lee became the first Australian to win the U.S. Junior Open in 2012 at the age of 16. Three years later, she joined the LPGA Tour for more success. On the other hand, when Minjee Lee was starting as a junior, her younger brother Min Woo Lee joined her at the Royal Fremantle GC when he was just 8. Seeing his sister excel at golf, Min Woo, at first, was intimidated and didn’t want to play the sport. He said, “When someone’s good at it [golf] in your family, you don’t really want to do that… I was in a shadow, you know, from such a young age.”

However, he was so good at golf that when he turned 15, he started taking practice seriously. Soon after, in 2016, Lee followed through the same path as Minjee Lee and won the U.S. Boys Junior. The two were moving forward in their respective journey. However, for Min Woo Lee, there was always a sense of competitiveness with his sister.

The healthy sibling rivalry of the Lee siblings

At a young age, Min Woo Lee revealed, “There was a bit of rivalry when we were younger as we are both competitors.” When Lee was younger, he used to annoy Minjee Lee; as a precaution, she kept him at one arm’s distance. They both shared in an interview that they weren’t as close in their teenage years. However, with age came maturity, and the relationship between the two was stronger.

But the rivalry was not going anywhere, though it was much healthy. Minjee Lee, a prodigy, won more than Min Woo as a junior and a professional. The younger sibling wanted to match his sister, and Minjee states, “Maybe he had a one-sided rivalry against me.”

Nonetheless, it was a kind of blessing in disguise for both of them. Minjee described the rivalry now as “It’s a bit of motivation for him, and it’s for me, too.” Min Woo Lee once thought he had the upper hand on her sister after winning the Aberdeen Scottish Open. But that busted a week later when Minjee Lee won the Amundi Evian Championship, her first major title.

In October 2023, yet another triumphant moment was witnessed. Both siblings were in Asia for their back-to-back wins in the week by a sibling duo. Minjee Lee won the BMW Ladies championship in her parent’s homeland, while Min Woo Lee was already the winner on the Asian Tour as he won the Macao Open.

It was a “little annoying” Min Woo Lee said that Minjee one-upped him. However, at the end of the day, he was proud of both of them and their victories. Regardless, Minjee is ten steps ahead of Min Woo Lee when it comes to picking up various accolades. The Australian star has won 10 times on the LPGA Tour, including two majors. Contrarily, Min Woo Lee has yet to make the American dream come true.

But he has won three times on the DP World Tour. The latest win was at the Fortinet Australia PGA Championship. Both have a similar dream of becoming the no. 1 golfer and the best in their respective Tours. Right now, Minjee Lee is playing at the Chevron Championship while Min Woo Lee is taking a break. Will the older Lee win her third major and give Min Woo Lee another challenge? It remains to be seen.