Australian Open golf tournament lands homegrown stars Minjee Lee and Hannah Green

Minjee Lee and Hannah Green will play in the Australian Open later this year, both on a quest for their maiden Open titles.

CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 10: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This image was sent with alternate crop). Minjee Lee of Australia celebrates with the trophy after winning in a two-hole playoff against Charley Hull (not pictured) of England during the final round of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G at Kenwood Country Club on September 10, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dylan Buell/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Dylan Buell / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

The women’s Australian Open has landed a double coup after securing the country’s two most recent major winners – Minjee Lee and Hannah Green – for the event later this year.

This masthead can reveal that Lee and Green – the world No.7 and 22 – will headline the tournament, to be played at The Lakes and The Australian Golf Clubs from November 30.

Both will be chasing their maiden Open titles as part of the dual-gender tournament, which has already confirmed the return of male counterparts Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, Lucas Herbert, Cameron Davis and Lee’s brother Min Woo.

Lee and Green have both won on the LPGA Tour but are desperate to taste success in their national Open as they look to become the first Australian winner of the Patricia Bridges Bowl since Karrie Webb nearly a decade ago.

Lee won her ninth LPGA title last month with victory at the Kroger Queen City Championship. Picture: Dylan Buell/Getty Images via AFP

Green finished third last year while Lee was fifth.

“I’m very excited to be teeing it up in the Australian Open again this year after experiencing the new format in 2022 and being in contention to win the Patricia Bridges Bowl,” Green said.

“As an Australian player, the Australian Open is a tournament I have always had right at the top of my list to hopefully one day win.”

Lee won her ninth LPGA title last month with victory at the Kroger Queen City Championship.

“The Australian Open is a tournament that I would love to win and add my name alongside players like Karrie, Jane Crafter, and Jan Stephenson as an Australian winner,” Lee said.

“Playing in front of a home crowd is always exciting, as is the chance to once again play a national Open alongside my brother.”

Both Green (pictured) and Lee will be chasing maiden Open titles. Picture: Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Lee and Green are former state amateur teammates and have both won on the WGA Tour of Australasia. However, their national Open has thus far evaded their grasp.

“Awesome to have Hannah and Minjee back for the Australian Open – they are great supporters of Australian golf,” Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland said.

“As major winners, they bring real star power to our Open and it is always a treat to watch them in action.

WPGA Tour of Australasia chief executive Karen Lunn added: “We couldn’t be happier that Minjee and Hannah will play the Australian Open again in 2023 as two of the most popular players in women’s golf and champions of the WPGA Tour of Australasia.

Lee and Green join Stephanie Kyriacou as confirmed players in the women’s field.