Lee suffers heartbreaker at Founders Cup
Australia’s Minjee Lee has fallen just short of a victory at the LPGA Tour’s Founders Cup in New Jersey today in a heartbreaker playoff against world No. 3 Jin Young Ko.
The 26-year-old Lee was in a strong position, two shots ahead with three holes to play.
But Lee bogeyed the par-4 16th and playing in a group ahead, Ko made a bomb for birdie on the 18th to post 13-under par and tie the lead as the Aussie came down the stretch.
Lee narrowly missed with a chip from behind the green at the 18th for the win, and had the advantage at the playoff hole against Ko when she found the fringe of the green while the South Korean was at long range.
But Lee could not close it out. Her putt for birdie from five metres barrelled two metres past the cup, and then her par-saver missed to the right, leaving Ko with a tap-in for a par and the win.
"Obviously I would've liked to have won, but looking back at my whole year and just kind of assessing where I am, how I did this week, I think a lot more positives than negatives," said Lee.
"Obviously I'm a little bit disappointed, but I think I can take more of the happy moments into my next stretch of events and the rest of the year.
"I'm not totally unhappy but obviously I would've liked a better result."
The world No. 6 began the final round with a three-shot lead and had to fight hard to reach the playoff at Upper Montclair Country Club.
She lost the outright lead to Ko when she flared her tee shot at the par-3 sixth hole into a water hazard and made double bogey.
But Lee immediately rallied with a birdie at the seventh hole then made a long birdie at 11 and hit it close for another at 12 to regain a semblance of control.
Ultimately she shot 68-69-67-71 for 13-under par to reach the playoff.
It is a welcome return to form for Lee who took an extended break over the off-season and who struggle for form in her first few starts on the LPGA Tour.
Her timing is ideal with her defence of the US Women’s Open less than two months away.
Sydney’s Grace Kim also logged a top-10 finish in New Jersey after closing with a round of 75 today. Sarah Kemp finished tied-13th after a 74 to finish.