Minjee Lee won the U.S. Women's Open by four strokes over Mina Harigae at Pine Needles on Sunday to earn US$1.8 million, the largest payout in the history of women's golf.
Lee closed with an even-par 71 to finish at 13-under 271 after the Australian flirted with the tournament record of 16 under set by Juli Inkster in 1999 at Old Waverly.
South Korea's Hye-Jin Choi was one of only two players to break par Sunday, carding a 70 to finish third at 7 under. Lee became the sixth straight international player to win the U.S. Women's Open and the first from Australia since mentor Karrie Webb in 2001. It was her second win at a major championship overall after winning the Evian Championship last July. Her previous best finish at the U.S. Open was a tie for 11th in 2017.
She lived up to that early on, birdieing the first two holes to move to 15 under and take a five-stroke lead over Harigae.