Australian golf superstar Minjee Lee returns to LPGA Tour action for the all-important Asian swing chasing a swag of prestigious awards including one rare golden double.
After a runner-up showing at the Hana Financial Group Championship in Korea, Lee will tee it up at this week’s Buick LPGA Shanghai with much at stake heading towards next month’s rich season finale in Florida.
Having already wrapped up major player-of-the-year honours, Lee is sitting second behind Thailand’s world number one Jeeno Thitikul in the overall player-of-the-year race with seven tournaments remaining.
The world number four has thrust herself into contention for the stellar double after capturing a third career major at the Women’s PGA Championship in June while also finishing tied for third behind fellow Australian Grace Kim at the Evian Championship three weeks later in France.
Lee is bidding to become the first Australian since the great Karrie Webb in 1999 and 2000 to be crowned international women’s golf’s player of the year.
The 29-year-old also tops the LPGA Tour’s official money list with $US3,629,430 ($5.51 million) in season earnings — some $US490,000 ($744,343) ahead of Thitikul — after boasting a super consistent six top-five finishes, seven top 10s and 14 top 20 results from 19 events in 2025.
In addition to more awards on offer, Lee is also well positioned in the mega-money, season-long Race to CME Globe standings.
The Perth ace is second behind Thitikul, with the top 60 qualifying for the season-ending Tour Championship in Naples from November 20-23.
The winner of the Tour Championship will pocket $US4 million ($6.08 million), the biggest prize in women’s golf history.
After nabbing her maiden major this year, Kim is running 29th on the points list, while fellow Australian Steph Kyriacou (44th) is also on track to qualify for the $US11 million ($16.71 million) season showpiece.
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After a lean season, world number 17 Hannah Green is in 54th spot, with LPGA Tour rookie Cassie Porter (58th) and Gabriela Ruffels (65th) needing a strong next month to secure spots at the Tour Championship.
Kyriacou, Porter, Ruffels and Thitikul all join Lee in this week’s field in Shanghai, where China’s world number seven Ruoning Yin is the defending champion.
Lee, Thitikul and Yin will play the first two rounds together on Thursday and Friday.
Other Australians featuring are Robyn Choi (67th in the points race), Karis Davidson (82nd), Hira Naveed (112th).
World number two Nelly Korda and number three Lydia Ko are sitting out the event.
AAP
