Australian Minjee Lee secured her first Major title after beating Jeongeun Lee6 in a playoff at The Amundi Evian Championship. 

The 25-year-old Perth natiev, who started the day seven strokes behind overnight leader Lee6, fired a final round of 64 (-7) to set the clubhouse lead of 18-under-par. 

With three consecutive birdies to close her round, Lee6 forced a playoff which took place on the par-five 18th where both leaders hit the fairway with their tee shots. 

Lee hit the green in two and Lee6 tried to follow her footsteps but hit it short into the water meaning it was the Australian who came out on top at Evian Resort Golf Club. 

“I’m speechless. I’ve been waiting for this for so long. It just feels unreal to have won. Just even in the playoff, and all throughout today, I played really well to get myself in that position, and I’m just really happy,” said the Major champion.

After rounds of 68, 69 and 65, Lee had an excellent final day rolling in seven birdies – including four in her last five holes – to card a bogey-free round of 64.

She added: “After nine holes I think I was like one back from the lead, so I knew I had to play really well to have a chance to win. So, I just tried to give myself as many birdie opportunities as I could on that back nine, because it was warm out and it was playing quite short, so I had a lot of short clubs in.”

With the win Lee becomes just the fourth Australian woman to win a major championship, joining Jan Stephenson, Karrie Webb and Lee’s West Australian compatriot, Hannah Green.
When asked what it meant to have her name forever linked with those three, Lee replied “ You know, they`re just all amazing people and amazing golfers, too. You know, it just has a really nice ring to it. Yeah.”

Lee also said that her long-time mentor and supporter Webb had actually messaged her straight after the win.

The newly crowned major winner’s next stop will be in Tokyo where she will team up with Green in the women`s golf event.
When asked if there was a better way to head into the Olympics than with a major championship under her belt Lee replied “ You know, it`s so cool. I still can`t believe it. Yeah, the Olympics have been on the back of my mind since Rio, so I`m really excited to play and go out there and rep my country. Yeah.”

South Korea’s Lee6 led heading into the final round but struggled on the front nine making one birdie and five bogeys. 

However, the 25-year-old regained some momentum on the back nine with a birdie on the 12^th before rolling in three more birdies in her final three holes to shoot even par 71 and force a playoff.

“I just didn’t feel good on the front nine. I tried my best, but the result wasn’t good. Back nine was a new nine, so I kept telling myself I could do it, I could make it. So, it was just the swing rhythm and then the putts dropped,” said Lee6. 

“I wanted to show the Korean flag for the Korean fans, and I am disappointed I couldn’t get it done. I missed the shot on the playoff hole because my body was getting tired.”

Australian Sarah Kemp will also leave Evian brimming with confidence after finishing in a tie for 19th place, the best major championship finish of her career to date, while Steph Kyriacou finished her week with a disappointing 5-over -par round to finish in a tie for 65th place.