Minjee Lee will return to the sight of her first major championship in France high on confidence after PGA win

Four years ago Minjee Lee won her first major in France, and having picked up two more since, she has the chance to earn a spot in Australian golf history.

Major champion Minjee Lee is ready to embrace the “happy vibes” once again in France as she seeks to surge into rare air in Australian golf at this week’s Evian Championship in France.

Victory would propel the 2025 PGA champion into clear third on the all-time list of Australian major winners, behind only Karrie Webb and Peter Thomson, having jumped over icon Greg Norman with her third major victory in Texas just more than two weeks ago.

She’ll return to the Evian Resort Golf Club having surged back to No.6 in the world, refreshed by a break since her stunning PGA win and armed with all the good vibrations that come with memories of her 2021 Evian win.

Four years ago Lee, now 29, birdied four of her final five holes to get into a playoff with Korea’s Jeongeun Lee, then made another birdie at the first playoff hole to secure the first of her three majors.

“I think that was probably one of my more exciting playoffs. So just the final round. I played really well to get into that position,” Lee said on arrival in France.

Minjee Lee after her 2021 win at the Evian Championship. Picture: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

“So I just felt like I just really great vibes, great memories, obviously like playing each hole I can kind of reflect and think back at what happened that round. You know, just gives me good energy and just, yeah, happy vibes I guess.”

The Evian was also the sight of Lee’s professional debut in 2014, being thrown straight into the deep end.

Lee is one of nine Australians teeing it up at Evian-les-Bains, including Stephanie Kyriacou, who finished second in the event in 2024, and LPGA Tour rookie Cassie Porter, who makes her Evian debut this week along with Robyn Choi.

But while a second Evian Championship is the goal this week, a greater challenge awaits Lee next month when she travels to Wales for the first time as her chase for a career grand slam begins.

Leewith the KPMG Women's PGA Championship trophy. Picture: Alex Slitz/Getty Images/AFP

The Women’s British Open, being played at Royal Porthcawl from July 31, is the final trophy Lee needs despite there being five majors on the LPGA calendar.

Webb won all five, but four would suit Lee and ensure she gets to the Hall of Fame having made a plan at the start of this year to give “100 per cent” after a lean 2024m, with the results obvious for all.

“You know, going into the beginning of this year and this offseason, I kind of sat down with my coach and we kind of talked about what I wanted to do and like how much time I wanted to put into golf itself,” she said.

“So I was like, oh, I probably want to play for three or four, what, five years more, so we just said, let’s give 100% and see where it leads us for this year. Here I am now.

“So I think I’m obviously always going to give me 100%, but it was just like in all aspects, like physically, mentally, and obviously like in golf, all aspects of golf.

“Yeah, that’s where I am right now.”

AUSTRALIANS AT THE EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Minjee Lee

Career LPGA wins: 11

Major wins: 3

Previous appearances: 10

Best finish: Won in 2021

Hannah Green

Career LPGA wins: 6

Major wins: 1

Previous appearances: 5

Best finish: T30 in 2019

Grace Kim

Career LPGA wins: 1

Major wins: 0

Previous appearances: 2

Best finish: T51 in 2024

Stephanie Kyriacou

Career LPGA wins: 0

Major wins: 0

Previous appearances: 4

Best finish: 2nd in 2024

Robyn Choi

Career LPGA wins: 0

Major wins: 0

Previous appearances: 0

Karis Davidson

Career LPGA wins: 0

Major wins: 0

Previous appearances: 1

Best finish: T61 in 2023

Hira Naveed

Career LPGA wins: 0

Major wins: 0

Previous appearances: 1

Best finish: MC in 2024

Cassie Porter

Career LPGA wins: 0

Major wins: 0

Previous appearances: Nil

Gabriela Ruffels

Career LPGA wins: 0

Major wins: 0

Previous appearances: 1

Best finish: T55 in 2024