US Women Open 2022 standings: Minjee Lee sets a scoring record, takes second place and scores $1.8 million

For the final round of the US Women’s Open on Sunday, Minjee Lee didn’t chase one of the best courts in women’s golf because she was too busy chasing history. Lee led the way as three advanced to the final round at the Pine Needles in Southern Pines, North Carolina, and shot 71 par to finish at 13 under 271, setting the US Women’s Open scoring record. She defeated Mina Harigae with four and Hyejin Choi with six. It never quite as it looks.

The USGA has dialed in a golf course whose defenses are its green complexes, and the course’s average score has risen above 75 (this is the first time this week it’s even crossed the 74 mark. ). It does not matter. Lee took her first two in control and never gave up the lead all day. She ran all to 15 under one point before making two bogeys in her final three holes after the tournament ended.

During the week, Lee hit over 24 on average, an absurd number that is rarely achieved in the pro but almost always guarantees you a win. Teammate Harigae pitted Lydia Ko and Hyejin Choi for a $1 million runner-up (the biggest in women’s golf history) more than ever leaving her in awe of Lee’s lead.

The win is Lee’s second in 2022 and also the second of her last three starts. She won the Cognizant Founders Cup at 19, two years older than Lexi Thompson just under a month ago. It’s also her second major championship win in her last four starts (she also won the Evian championship last year) and her fourth straight finish in the top 12. If possible, The number 4 golfer in the world is still on the upswing.

“I’m speechless, I can’t believe it at the moment,” Lee said on NBC. “It’s super, super special and a great honor. It’s been my dream since I was a little girl. It’s been a dream I’ve always wanted to achieve, and now I have it. This is amazing.”

Lee currently holds both a 54-hole US Open record of 200 and a 72-hole record of 271. She became the seventh golfer in nine attempts since 2000 to take a three (or more) lead into the final round of this tournament, who have gone on to hold the trophy.

Lee’s 271 beats Annika Sorenstam’s (1996), Juli Inkster (1999) and In Gee Chun’s (2015) 272 shots and is part of a tournament that will be remembered as it has reset the record books.

Lowest score of 72 holes in US Open

Lee’s record isn’t the only one made at the event. Amateur Ingrid Lindblad, her college golfer at LSU, shot the lowest score ever for an amateur tennis player at the US Women’s Open (65) and set 18, 36 and 54 hole scoring records for an amateur at this tournament and Second-lowest 72-hole score ever. She was slightly undone on Sunday with 76 but she still finished T11 and was one of 13 golfers of the week to finish below par.

“[I learned] Lindblad, who finished runner-up at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur earlier this year may have scored low.

For the first time in the event’s history, this year’s women’s US Open had a sponsor, amounting to $10 million and paying Lee first prize $1.8 million, and Harigae only earned over 1 million dollars in second place. All figures (total, first and second) are the largest they have ever had. While I’m not sure any of that affects the contenders in the long run, it’s certainly worth noting that the best tournament in women’s golf is pushed into a more modern focus.

Everywhere you look at Pine Needles, numbers are decreasing. Fewest strokes in the event’s 77-year history. Most money ever made at a women’s golf tournament. And while the home game isn’t exactly suspenseful – Lee’s performance removed all drama (and doubt) from the festival – this US Women’s Open will always be remembered for what it was. in this moment and what it will look like when people talk about it 20 years from now: history.