For the second consecutive season, Minjee Lee is beginning to hit her stride as the LPGA Tour winds into its final stretch of the year.

Lee heads into the weekend at the Buick LPGA Shanghai just two strokes off the lead of Sei Young Kim following back-to-back rounds of 67 and is seeking her first victory of the 2024 season.

“I was a little up and down on the front nine. Made two bogeys and two birdies, so I turned even and had five birdies on the back and finished with a nice long putt to finish my day,” said Lee, whose 14 birdies is tied for most of the week. “So a good back nine to finish round two.”

Lee began to hit her stride around this same time in 2023. The Australian won in September at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G and then found the winner’s circle again in October at the BMW Ladies Championship for an impressive two victories in four starts.

But 2024 has been much more of a challenge for Lee.

Since the offseason, Lee has been working through an equipment change, which has resulted in subsequent adjustments to her swing. The overhaul has resulted in five missed cuts this season on the LPGA Tour for Lee, the most she has missed since her rookie season in 2015 and more than her last four seasons combined.

Now more than halfway through the year, Lee is beginning to show signs once more of the form that has made her a multiple major champion. Her solid start in Shanghai at Qizhong Garden Golf Club comes on the heels of her best worldwide finish of the year, a T3 showing on the KLPGA at the Hana Financial Group Championship in September.

“My game has just been improving little by little throughout the whole year,” Lee said. “I played one week in my sponsor's event a couple of weeks ago, and I had a good result there, so I’m trying to ride the momentum. I also enjoy playing this golf course as well, so I think a bit of both.”

Lee’s joy on the golf course stems from feeling close to home. Although she calls Perth, Australia, her hometown, her parents emigrated from the Republic of Korea to Australia, and being back in Asia is giving the two-time major champion a sense of familiarity and comfort.

“I like playing in Asia. A lot of my family come out to watch, and I have a nice fan support group here as well,” Lee said about playing in Shanghai for the fourth time. “It makes me feel more at home. Obviously, I enjoy playing everywhere, but Asia, it's close to my heritage, and just nice to be here.”

Lee will play in the penultimate group on Saturday, alongside Yealimi Noh and Nasa Hataoka, and is planning to make as many birdies as she can to give herself a chance at an 11th LPGA Tour title come the final round on Sunday.

“The greens have been quite soft compared to last year, so I think depending on the conditions, or if there is wind or if the green speed gets a little bit quicker, I think I can still play pretty aggressive and try and attack the pins when I can and try and give myself good looks at birdies,” Lee said about her strategy for the weekend. “My game plan is to do everything in my control, obviously, and play aggressive and have fun.”

Minjee Lee Hitting her Stride Late in the Season at Buick LPGA Shanghai

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