Lee sibling rivalry to reignite as the battle for Aussie Open bragging rights ramps up

Superstar Minjee Lee is on the hunt for her first Aussie Open title... and wants bragging rights over younger brother Min Woo as the sibling rivalry reignites.

There is nothing like a sibling rivalry to stoke the fires of Australian golf’s first family.

After holding bragging rights in her family for as long as she can remember, superstar Minjee Lee is in a race with her younger brother Min Woo for one of the big bucket list items neither of the superstar golfers has been able to tick off.

For all her success on the global circuit - which includes winning two majors - Minjee has never won the Australian Open and is desperate to get her name on the trophy after her past close shaves.

Minjee Lee is hoping for her first Australian Open win. Picture: Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images

In 2011, when she was just 14, Minjee led the tournament heading into the final round. In 2017, she finished tied for third and last year, she stormed home to finish runner-up, by a single stroke, to South Africa’s Ash Buhai.

Confirming she will again be lining up on the tee for this year’s Australian Open at Kingston Heath and the Victoria Golf Club from Nov 28 - Dec 1, Minjee said she was determined to go one better this time around.

“Winning an Australian Open title would mean so much to me, and breaking the Aussie drought would make it extra special, especially after my close call last year in Sydney,” Minjee said.

“That event was huge and I’d love to see crowds like that again in Melbourne.”

Held in conjunction with the men’s Australian Open, the unique dual-gender tournament will enable Minjee to catch up with her brother Min Woo after the pair made history in August this year by competing together for Australia at the Paris Olympics.

Siblings Minjee Lee and Min Woo Lee battling for Aussie Open bragging rights. Picture: Supplied

Like his older sister, Min Woo is also chasing his first Australian Open crown after breaking through to win last year’s Australian PGA title in Queensland, but Minjee her only real focus was on trying to win the women’s tournament.

“Both the women’s and men’s fields look really good, and for me it is going to great fun going head-to-head with Ash after her success in this event and all the Aussie girls, especially Hannah (Green) who has had such a great year on the LPGA,” she said.

“Although it has been a long year playing all over the world, I am very much looking forward to finishing my run of tournaments at the Australian Open that is always one of the most special events of the year.

“The Melbourne Sandbelt has so many amazing courses, and playing such a big tournament at Kingston Heath and Victoria in front of the incredible home fans will be a very enjoyable way to end the year.”