A dialog on the US Open champions dinner at Pebble Seashore on Monday evening rammed dwelling the chance Aussie star Minjee Lee has this week.
Lee, the world No.6, is attempting to change into the primary back-to-back champion since Karrie Webb achieved the feat in 2000 and 2001 and the Aussie legend was in her ear about making it occur.
“She mentioned the following one must be an Aussie, too,” Lee revealed forward of the opening spherical on the iconic course in California.
“A bit of little bit of added strain, however it was fairly cool for her to say that to me.”
Lee, who cruised to her second main championship at Pine Needles final 12 months, is considered one of 5 Australians vying for his or her share of the document $15m prize pool, which was additionally the topic of a lot dialogue among the many previous winners.
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Simply two years in the past, in 2021, the prize pool was half what it’s in 2023, and that’s not misplaced on the present gamers like Lee who might web $2.2m ought to she win once more.
“We have been speaking in regards to the prize purses all through the years, and it simply put a lot perspective on me,” she mentioned.
It’s a match of firsts, being performed at Pebble Seashore for the primary time, presenting a complete new problem to the world’s greatest gamers.
Lee opted out of seeing the course earlier than her arrival this week and has been struck by the format, which she mentioned can be “fairly powerful”.
“I performed the again 9 (on Monday) and it was nonetheless fairly spectacular although I didn’t have a lot of the view,” she mentioned.
“However I’m going to play the entrance 9 in the present day and I believe it’s far more scenic. However I believe the course itself is in actually nice situation. The tough may be very lush. The fairways and greens are additionally in nice situation.
“I believe general the course goes to be a very nice check for all of us. There’s a mixture of actually nice holes, some longer holes, shorter holes. I believe if the wind will get up, will probably be fairly powerful.”
Taking part in in her first US Open, rising Aussie star Gabriela Ruffels is attempting to channel Tiger Woods, watching his triumph on the flip of the century for inspiration.
“I sort of watched the re-run of Tiger in 2000 the opposite day,” the 23-year-old mentioned.
“That was fairly cool, when he was main into Sunday by 10, if I’m not mistaken.
“I don’t usually try this however I figured I used to be going to Pebble Seashore subsequent week, it may be good homework to do. It’s additionally very thrilling any time you watch Tiger.
“Little homework, little watching only for enjoyable.”
Lee and Ruffels can be joined within the area by 2019 PGA winner Hannah Inexperienced, Grace Kim and newbie Maddison Hinson-Tolchard.
FIRST ROUND AUSTRALIAN TEE TIMES
1:17am (Friday AEST) – Minjee Lee, (a) Saki Baba, Japan; Ashleigh Buhai, South Africa
7:13am (Friday AEST) – Ayaka Furue, Japan; Hannah Inexperienced, Linn Grant, Sweden
Midnight (Friday AEST) / Sadie Englemann, Austin, Texas; Gabriela Ruffels, Charlotte Thomas, England
12:11am (Friday AEST) – Bronte Regulation, England; Grace Kim, (a) Monet Chun, Canada
2:01am (Friday AEST) – Albane Valenzuela, Switzerland; Momoko Ueda, Japan; (a) Maddison Hinson-Tolchard