It was too little too late yet world No.4 Minjee Lee can take heart from her stunning finish to The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas.

Lilia Vu earned her first major title in the first women’s major of 2023, a birdie from 14 feet at the first playoff hole against Angel Yin ensuring her place in history as the first winner at the tournament’s new home.

Despite an encouraging start on Thursday, it was an otherwise disappointing week in which the Aussie contingent faded from contention.

One stroke from the lead after day one, Stephanie Kyriacou closed with a one-over 73 to finish in a tie for 49th while Karis Davidson’s weekend rounds of 75-79 saw her fall to a tie for 56th.

A tie for 41st is not customary for a player of Lee’s class yet the way she finished may have unlocked something for the four majors still to come.

The reigning US Women’s Open champion and winner of the Rolex Annika Major Award in 2022, Lee opened with two-under 70 in Round 1 but saved her best until last, playing the final 12 holes in six-under par.

Three-over through five holes of her final round, the West Australian picked up the first of what would be a four-hole birdie blitz at the par-3 seventh.

One-under on her round following her fourth straight birdie on 10, Lee added further birdies at 13 and 18 for a round of three-under 69 and three-over tournament total.

Again, it is not where she is accustomed to finishing but given it was just her third tournament of the year – and with coach Ritchie Smith on the bag – it may provide the foundation to push for a third major title as the season progresses.

Already a winner on the LPGA Tour this season, Vu had to birdie her final two holes to even make the playoff, taking advantage of Yin’s second shot finding the water to triumph in extra time.

“I felt like today was a really hard day,” said Vu, whose final round 68 was equal to the best of the day.

“The course was playing really difficult with the wind and the weather and it being colder.

“I just didn’t feel great on the course. I was getting kind of moody, and my caddie Cole was there to basically ground me and remind me like, ‘Hey, we’re just going to try our best, and whatever happens, happens. Just hit it on your line and then go from there and stop getting so upset over every little thing.’ Somehow 17 and 18 comes, birdie-birdie, and then now we’re here.”

The Chevron Championship
The Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands, Texas
1             Lilia Vu  68-69-73-68—278            $US765,000
T41        Minjee Lee          70-75-77-69—291            $26,118
T49        Stephanie Kyriacou          68-76-76-73—293            $19,116
T56        Karis Davidson    70-72-75-79—296            $15,106
MC         Sarah Kemp        76-71—147
MC         Lydia Ko (NZ)      71-76—147
MC         Grace Kim            75-73—148
MC         Hannah Green    75-74—149