Minjee Lee leading LPGA event in China after off-season equipment change

Aussie star Minjee Lee is playing with new equipment in 2024 but it’s only taken two events for her to show her class.

Minjee Lee Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)

Australian star Minjee Lee didn’t start her 2024 season until last week in Hong Kong but has quickly found her best taking the opening round lead at the $3.5 million LPGA tour event in China.

The world no.5 made a massive equipment change in the off-season and had a look at “everything” during a lengthy two-month playing break before returning with a top-30 finish to begin her season as good friend Hannah Green went on to a fifth career victory last weekend.

On the second leg of her Asian-swing, Lee put her foot down setting as produced the tournament’s best first round of seven-under 65.

Sent out in the very first group of the morning at the Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course on Thursday, Lee carded seven-birdies in her bogey-free round to flex some muscle early in her 2024 campaign.

Minjee Lee on her way to a 65 in China. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)

Lee, 27, has a habit of doing well the week after her brother, fellow pro Min Woo, does well, and he finished second on the US PGA Tour last weekend, jumping to a career-high ranking of 31.

The duo are not both using Callaway equipment, which was part of Minjee’s off-season shake-up, which she conceded had taken some adjusting to.

“I actually touched on everything this off-season, especially with changes to my equipment to Callaway,” she said.

“Everything has been a little bit of a process of getting used to it. It’s going to take me a couple of events to knock the rust off and break those clubs in.

“I’m looking forward to the rest of the week.”

Lee was the stand-alone leader after the morning session, one-shot clear of American Sarah Schmelzel.

Green opted against backing up, instead using the close proximity of her win to her hometown of Perth to make a flying visit.