Australia’s Minjee Lee has won the US Women’s Open, claiming one of the biggest women’s golf tournaments ever.
Lee’s four-shot victory has earned her the tournament’s $US1.8 million ($2.5 million) winner’s prize — the largest in women’s golf history.
The win was Lee’s second of golf’s major championships after her victory at The Evian in 2021.
The WA native took a three-shot lead into the final round in the knowledge she would need to conquer the toughest conditions of the tournament to win.
But a birdie-birdie start quickly settled the nerves, as Lee extended the lead and never looked back.
“I’m speechless. I can’t believe it right now,” Lee said after completing her win.
“It’s super special and such a great honour. It’s been my dream since I was a little girl, this is the one I always wanted to win.”
Bogeys on the fifth and seventh holes kept Lee in check, but with all her competitors struggling with the tough set-up at Pine Needles, her lead was never threatened.
A series of clutch par putts boosted the confidence, before a birdie at 13 got the party started.
Lee added another birdie at the par-five 15th hole to briefly stretch her lead out to six shots, but a pair of bogeys ensured an even-par round and a four-shot win over runner-up Mina Harigae of the US.
Lee is the third Australian to win the US Women’s Open after Jan Stephenson (1981) and Karrie Webb (2000 and 2001).