World No 20 Minjee Lee storms to nine-shot win in Saudi Arabia
World No 20 Minjee Lee is the latest Australian golfer to rocket to the top of the world rankings.
The winner of this week’s Saudi Ladies International, Lee, 19, has vaulted to the top of the rankings in the absence of the likes of England’s Brooke Henderson and Lydia Ko.
Victory at the inaugural event on the Ladies European Tour gave the Queenslander her first LPGA Tour win and came after she secured her first title in professional golf in October at the Kia Classic.
Her score of ten-under-par 271 on the Ladies European Tour – recorded at Royal Greens in Saudi Arabia – matched the course record, which first was set by British star Katherine Hull-Kirk at the 2008 Qatar Masters.
It also saw her move past the women’s all-time biggest first win on the tour, the $1.25m (A$1.53m) Mercedes-Benz Championship crown claimed by England’s Charley Hull in 2017.
“It’s been a pretty special week,” Lee said. “I am very, very proud to get my first LPGA Tour win at such a big event. I had a great feeling all week and I’m looking forward to coming back.”