Where is the love for this Aussie world beater?

She’s the nation’s most recent Major winner, after crushing at the US Women’s Open this year. But 26-year-old Minjee Lee is still a relatively unknown name down under, despite being on the cusp of a world number one ranking.

It’s been a little over a week since Minjee Lee clinched her second major golf victory at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club. 

The Australian showed an impressive display at the US Women’s Open, shooting an even-par 71 to finish at 13-under 271, helping her to join Karrie Webb and Jan Stephenson as the only Australian women to claim victory in the event.  

Lee’s also the reigning champion of the Australian Open this year. Both accomplishments are beyond just significant strides for women’s sports. But despite being the most recent of the LPGA top five to break through for a Major, the West Australian has been greeted with far less fanfare than another Aussie hero, Ash Barty. 

Tennis comes with rich history down under, prominent names including Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Margaret Court, and a Grand Slam of its own. Perhaps that can explain the reason behind Lee’s latest achievement being underappreciated. 

But for a nation that prides itself on its sporting success, particularly tasting world stage glory, it seems a little unusual that the public is yet to catch up on the rise of Lee. 

Before making headlines this year for claiming victory at the recent golf major, the Australian has already amassed a string of tournament wins throughout her professional career. Her first LPGA tour win in 2015 at the Kingsmill Championship soon set off her rise in the professional rankings. 

She even became the first woman in 2018 to receive the Greg Norman Medal given for being the best golfer on the world stage. 

It’s not just in her professional career that’s been causing a buzz, as Lee also has a track record when it comes to amateur golfing days. She was the youngest winner of the WA Amateur Open whilst still in high school. Lee also held a ranking of number one and led the Australian team that won the Espirito Santo trophy in the same year she went pro. 

Yet as a result of her minimal profile, the coverage she managed to attract from the media saw her described as an invisible champion of the country. Lee’s coach Ritchie Smith revealed in an interview that he had the “irrits” over the underrated status Lee held in her homeland. 

“This is a truly international sport, not cricket or footy,” Smith said in The Age. His comments followed the release of a list that compiled the greatest female athletes, which Lee was ultimately snubbed from. 

It’s the perplexing case that needs to be looked at, given the efforts that have been seen in the coverage of women’s sport. With the potential of being Australia’s best female golfer of all time, a mantle Karrie Webb comfortably holds right now, it seems that Lee is looking likely to reach a world number one ranking before she is more widely known in her hometown.  

It’s even more confusing as to why she is relatively unknown despite representing Australia in both the Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games more recently. 

As Lee continues to grab more wins and quite likely make it to number one in the world, even right now is too late to get behind the talented golfer who is well overdue for more of the nation’s attention.