'This One Is Special' - Minjee Lee Claims Dramatic BMW Ladies Championship Win Via Playoff
The Australian was delighted to land her 10th LPGA Tour victory in Seoul with her Korean parents and grandma in attendance


Australia’s Minjee Lee claimed her 10th LPGA Tour title at the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea following a playoff victory over Alison Lee.
Both Minjee and Alison held the lead at various points throughout the final day’s play at Seowon Hills Country Club, with the American out in front at the turn before her Australian namesake chiselled out a two-shot advantage with just a couple of holes to go.
As Minjee sat helpless in the clubhouse on 16-under, her rival closed to within one courtesy of a birdie on 17 prior to sending the event into extra holes with a superb approach and birdie putt on 18 too.
But after Alison was unable to repeat her heroics in the playoff, Minjee swooped in to take the title via a sublime iron into the green and a clutch winning putt down the hill.
Defending champion - and Korean-born New Zealander - Lydia Ko ended third on 14-under while last week’s LPGA Tour winner, Angel Yin, scooped fourth on 13-under.
A playoff win for @minjeegolf!She earns her 10th Tour win in Korea! 🇰🇷FULL LEADERBOARD ⬇️ https://t.co/kpEybmp0ZIOctober 22, 2023
After mixed results in playoffs at this year’s Founders Cup and Kroger Queen City Championship - Lee won the latter against Charley Hull but lost to Jin Young Ko in the former - the Australian was delighted to call on recent experience to help push her over the line this time.
Lee said: “Well, I think it was my fourth playoff this year, so you know, I'm becoming pretty used to those. Obviously I've known Alison quite a while. I actually played her in the final at the U.S. Girls' Junior, which I kind of thought back to when I was on the tee there. I was like, this kind of feels familiar.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
“It's nice to be able to play against somebody that you know and especially with such great talent, and it's always fun to go head-to-head with the best. I mean, I just went out on the tee there and was like let's just hit the fairway and hit a good shot in and hit a good putt. That was pretty much my thought process for the playoff hole, and it was nice to be able to make a birdie there.”
Clutch birdie putt by Alison Lee forced a playoff, but in the end, Minjee Lee was victorious after the 73rd hole 👀Here's how the final moments went down! pic.twitter.com/iVIUVlJ4o4October 22, 2023
Joining Collin Morikawa as weekend winners who were able to celebrate in a country which holds such meaning to their family, heritage-wise, Lee admitted it had always been a dream of hers to land silverware in the Republic of Korea.
She said: “Yeah, out of all the places, Korea was always at the top of my list because my parents are Korean and I have a heritage to Korea. This one is special, and especially having all of my family and extended family and friends coming out to cheer for me today, it was really cool to see them on the sidelines when I was walking down. It was great that I was able to win today.”
Minjee’s success arrived a week after her brother Min Woo - set to feature on the PGA Tour next year - landed the Macau Open on the Asian Tour.
Asked if her sibling’s win added any extra fuel to achieve one of her own, Minjee said: “Yeah, obviously it was great to see Min Woo win. I follow him every single event. I mean, I'd never say it to his face but he plays really well and I'm always really proud of him.
“Sure, it was a little motivation, and I knew I was coming in with pretty good form coming off last week. Yeah, I feel like I've been working up to this one and really building on this win.”

Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Joaquin Niemann. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and recently reached his Handicap goal of 18 for the first time. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.
-
PGA Tour Truist Championship Creator Classic Line-Up And Format Revealed
The PGA Tour has announced the line-up for the second Creator Classic ahead of the Truist Championship - with YouTubers from outside golf taking on the challenge
By Paul Higham
-
Are You Tired Of Your High-Handicap Golfer Status? These 4 Substantiated Tips Are Your Salvation
Being a high-handicap golfer is not easy, with consistency being difficult to establish and progress hard to come by... until you try these four simple tips!
By Barry Plummer
-
What Is The Cut At the Chevron Championship?
The first of five women's Majors of the year, what do players need to do make the cut at the Chevron Championship?
By Paul Higham
-
Yani Tseng Won Five Majors Putting Right-Handed, But Now She's Flipped Sides - Here's Why...
A dominant force in the women's game 15 years ago, Tseng has lost her way since and is now employing a "last resort" putting tactic in order to play well again
By Jonny Leighfield
-
Nelly Korda Looking At Another Putter Switch After Shooting 77 in Chevron Championship
World No.1 Nelly Korda was almost in tears after her first-round 77 at the Chevron Championship, and was looking to instantly make another change of putter as a result
By Paul Higham
-
Chevron Championship Tee Times: Rounds One And Two
A look at when the players are teeing it up in the opening two rounds of the Chevron Championship - the first women's Major of the year
By Mike Hall
-
Charley Hull Social Media Video Reveals Brutal Weather Conditions Ahead Of Chevron Championship
Charley Hull has added a video to her Instagram stories showing strong wind and heavy rain in Texas ahead of the first women's Major of the year
By Mike Hall
-
How To Watch Chevron Championship 2025: Live Streams, TV Channels, Schedule
All the details on how to watch Chevron Championship online and on TV from anywhere, as the first women's Major of 2025 takes place at Carlton Woods this week.
By Roderick Easdale
-
Rose Zhang Ruled Out Of Chevron Championship
The American hasn't featured in a competitive event since withdrawing from the T-Mobile Match Play, with it reported that Zhang will miss the Chevron Championship due to an ongoing neck injury
By Matt Cradock
-
Rookie Ingrid Lindblad Seals Maiden LPGA Tour Title In JM Eagle LA Championship
The Swedish star won by one over fellow rookie Akie Iwai at El Caballero Country Club
By Mike Hall