TEENAGER Minjee Lee has the added pressure of being Australia’s highest ranked player at the US Women’s Open this week at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania.
The 19 year old Perth golfer, who had her first LPLGA win this year, took over the mantle from seven time major winner Karrie Webb last week. But she could lose it very quickly depending on the results this week.
Lee goes into the event ranked 16th in the world with 40-year-old Webb at No. 18.
“I am really excited to be Aussie no. 1,” Lee told Golf Australia from Pennsylvania this week. “To represent Australia is such a great honor, and I want to work even harder to keep my ranking as long as ‘Webby’ did.”
Lee said she was primed for a good performance.
“You never know when it’s going to be your week, so I’m going to take one shot at a time and play smart golf,” she said. “I want to enjoy the atmosphere and most of all have fun!
“I feel like I’ve been doing the best preparations for the coming week so hopefully come last nine of Sunday I’m in contention. The course is in really great condition despite the amount of rain they have had, so it’s going to be a good test, especially on the undulating greens at Lancaster.”
The defending champion this week is Michelle Wie, who has been battling injury for much of the year and does not have a top-10 finish in 2015.
Ironically, the last person to successfully defend their title was Webb, who won in 2000 and 2001.
Other leading contenders include Kiwi Lydia Ko, who can regain her world No.1 ranking if she can beat current incumbent Inbee Park.
The Aussie contingent also includes Breanna Elliott, Su Oh, Katherine Kirk and Sarah Jane Smith.
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US Women’s Open Leaderboard
US Women’s Open Leaderboard