SOUTHERN PINES, NC — On the U.S. Women’s Open’s moving day, Minjee Lee surpassed Mina Harigae with a 4-under 67 at Pine Needles.
Both Lee and Harigae were tied at 9-under going into Saturday’s round. Although it may have seemed like the two players were going head-to-head on the course, Lee had a different game plan.
“I didn’t really notice [Mina] playing that much because I was really kind of in my zone,” Lee said. “I was just trying to make as many birdies as I could just to try and post a good score.”
Lee who knows how to win on the LPGA with 7 victories, including her first major win at last year’s Evian Championship, understands what needs to happen for her to end up victorious.
“I’m just going to stick to what I know,” said Lee. “I’ve been to plenty of U.S. Opens and been in pressure situations like this before. Just take away my experience from the other events and the other Opens and try and get it done tomorrow.”
Full-field scores from the U.S. Women’s Open
Harigae, who’s three shots behind Lee, has won seven times as a professional golfer but has yet to win on the LPGA. She experienced the pressure of being in contention to win a major at last year’s AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie. She was tied for the lead through Saturday and finished T-13 that week and has yet to finish top-10 in a major. However, she has leaned on that recent experience for this U.S. Women’s Open week now that she’s in contention again to win a major title.
“I was a little nervous in the beginning, but I was able to hit some good shots,” said Harigae. “I made a good birdie on 16. I think overall I’m just happy with the way I was able to hang in there. I can control my emotions a lot better, especially when there’s high tension when things don’t go my way.”
Lee shared her emotions coming down the stretch on Saturday’s round.
“Pretty much when I was on the run of birdies I wasn’t too nervous. But I think coming down the stretch a little bit more, just with more people maybe, just a little bit more pressure. Yeah, I’m pretty calm. My personality is pretty calm anyway. I don’t think I get too high or too low. I think that’s a strength of mine.”
Harigae reinforced to herself that “self-awareness” will be critical for her to keep up with Lee on Sunday.
“I just realized if I wanted to get to the next level, I really have to get a hold of myself emotionally,” she said.
Lee relayed her Sunday game plan. “I’m just going to try and make as many birdies as I can to give myself as many opportunities as I can on the greens. Play safe when I need to and just take one shot at a time really,” said Lee, who also received a text from Karrie Webb who won back-to-back U.S. Women’s Opens in 2000 and 2001.
“She said, keep it going,” said Lee. “Let’s go Aussie.”
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