How one player seized the moment when the stars aligned in Texas

When Pressure Meets Poise

Walking to the first tee Sunday at Fields Ranch East with a four-shot lead, Minjee Lee carried the weight of expectation and nearly two years without a significant victory. By the time she walked off the 18th green, champagne-soaked and grinning, the 29-year-old had done something she hadn’t accomplished since 2023 – win a golf tournament that truly mattered.

The victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship wasn’t just another trophy for the mantle. This was validation. This was proof that after a lengthy drought, she still had what it takes to close out a major championship when everything was on the line.

A Masterclass in Staying Calm

The final round at PGA Frisco was never going to be easy. Firm conditions, swirling winds, and a leaderboard packed with hungry competitors meant every shot would have to be earned. The champion’s 2-over 74 might not look pretty on paper, but it was exactly what championship golf demanded on Sunday.

Her lead was tested early and often. Jeeno Thitikul, the young Thai star, wasn’t going away quietly. Auston Kim came charging with three straight birdies to get within striking distance. Chanettee Wannasaen made an eagle on the drivable 15th to pile on the pressure. But through it all, the leader stayed composed, making the crucial putts when she needed them most.

The Turning Point That Decided Everything

The 13th hole will be remembered as the moment the eventual winner truly seized control of this championship. Facing a nine-foot par putt that could have opened the door for the chasing pack, she buried it dead center. Meanwhile, Thitikul made bogey on the same hole, effectively ending her chances and giving the leader the breathing room she needed.

From there, the champion looked like the seasoned major winner she is. A clutch birdie on 14, another on 15, and suddenly her lead was back to four shots with three holes to play. Even a late bogey on 16 couldn’t derail her momentum – she was simply too good and too experienced to let this one slip away.

Joining Elite Company

With this victory, the champion becomes just the fourth player from her country to win the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, joining an exclusive group that includes Hall of Fame talent. More importantly, she’s now one of only three players from her nation with three or more major titles, putting her in rarefied air.

The significance wasn’t lost on the winner, especially with close friend Hannah Green there to spray champagne on the 18th green. “All of them are such great golfers, great careers,” she said. “I think it’s great to be able to have my name up with them.”

One Step Closer to History

Perhaps most intriguingly, this victory puts the champion just one major championship away from completing the Career Grand Slam. She’s now collected three of the four major titles, with only one major standing between her and golf immortality.

At 29, she’s entering the prime years of her career, and this victory should give her tremendous confidence moving forward. The putter that had been giving her trouble for months finally cooperated this week, and if it continues to behave, she’ll be a factor in every major championship for years to come.

A Victory That Feels Different

“I feel like I really deserve this one,” the champion said afterward, and there’s something refreshing about that honesty. This wasn’t a gift from the golf gods or a lucky break – this was earned through grinding out tough conditions and making the shots that matter when the pressure is highest.

After nearly two years without a victory, she proved she’s still capable of rising to the biggest occasions. In a sport where confidence is everything, that might be the most valuable thing she takes away from her week in Texas.