Australian golf star Minjee Lee might really feel herself burning out at simply 26 – after eight lengthy years on tour – earlier than a self-imposed sabbatical breathed new life into her 2023 season.
Lee completed 67th, 52nd, forty first and forty fourth in her first 4 begins this 12 months so determined to go dwelling to Perth, put the sticks away and sit on the seaside for nearly a month.
That was adopted with some extra downtime in Dallas and after six weeks off the tour, the previous world No. 2 made a scorching return on the Founders Cup.
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Lee might have fallen simply in need of defending her title in New Jersey – dropping within the a playoff – but it surely was her greatest 72 holes of the season by a whopping 13 strokes.
She backed it up with seven straight top-20 finishes earlier than successful two tournaments in three begins in September and October.
Lee arrived on the Australian Open this week on the again of three straight top-10 finishes and with the Greg Norman Medal round her neck.
The daughter of South Korean immigrants was final week awarded Australian golf’s highest particular person honour for the third time in six years.
Lee credit her elegant again half of 2023 with resetting again in April.
“I simply went to the seaside and noticed my buddies, which was good, and I simply did nothing. I simply wanted peace in my mind and to not take into consideration golf,” Lee advised foxsports.com.au.
“I believe it did me very well as a result of I form of rushed via eight years and that is my ninth 12 months on tour so I simply felt like I wanted a break to recuperate.
“I really feel like I actually had a extremely strong final two months with two wins on the LPGA and form of received my sport to have 4 good rounds.
“The primary half of the 12 months I simply felt like the primary two can be good then the following two can be common, and I simply felt form of jumbled.
“I received some confidence after my first win (after the break) and I used to be in a position to be a bit extra relaxed and extra assured in myself and my sport ending the 12 months and hopefully I’ve week this week as effectively.”
Lee has performed each Australian Open since 2010, but it surely’s certainly one of few trophies on dwelling soil that has eluded her grasp.
“This one has all the time been the one… as an Australian you all the time need to win your nationwide Open and it’s all the time been excessive on my listing to win,” she mentioned.
“I’ve performed each single one since I used to be 14 and it’s been the one which has all the time been hardest to win.
“I put probably the most strain on myself right here, I actually need to do effectively so it’s unconscious strain, not strain you possibly can see.
“You need to carry out effectively in entrance of your property crowd and provides them what they need however generally it simply doesn’t occur, it’s golf.
“Though I do really feel rather less strain proper now.
“This 12 months I really feel like I actually deserved all the pieces that I received, the wins, I felt like they have been actually deserved. I put plenty of work in, no one can see it, proper, they don’t understand how a lot work you place in (behind the scenes).
“I put plenty of work into my sport, myself, private development, all the pieces, so for these wins to return collectively, they have been wins of resilience, perseverance and grit.”
Lee doesn’t need to play professionally past her thirty fourth birthday, however stays as hungry as ever to win and emphasised she has lots left to attain within the sport.
The 27-year-old has gained two majors and has the opposite three in her sights, in addition to Olympic gold and the No. 1 rating.
“It’s motivation to get there (world No. 1) but additionally being so shut (world No. 2 in 2019) it’s a bit of irritating that you simply didn’t fairly get there,” she mentioned.
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“However I’m fifth on the planet rankings proper now and hopefully subsequent 12 months I can do effectively in these majors and have these wins to get to that high spot.
“My final objective is to be within the Corridor of Fame so meaning successful all of the majors and plenty of occasions.”
GREEN BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Hannah Inexperienced loved a surprising breakout season in 2019, along with her first profession victory extremely taking place at a serious when she gained the PGA Championship.
Inexperienced backed that up with one other victory on the Portland Basic and in December 2019 was awarded the Greg Norman Medal, Australian golf’s highest particular person honour.
“Then the world shut down,” Inexperienced advised foxsports.com.au.
It will be nearly 4 years earlier than Inexperienced gained once more on the LPGA Tour title, lastly ending the drought on the JM Eagle LA Championship in Might.
“It’s exhausting. It’s exhausting to again up a season while you’ve gained two that 12 months and particularly contemplating it wasn’t even a objective to win a match that 12 months then I went and gained a serious and a pair months later I gained once more,” she mentioned.
“So 2020 I used to be actually excited for after which the world shut down, it was form of exhausting to return again so I felt just like the win this 12 months was actually essential.
“I did win a number of occasions in Australia in 2022 in order that was a very nice option to get again into the season but it surely’s been an attention-grabbing 12 months that’s for positive.
“I’ve not performed my greatest golf but additionally come out with a win so it’s form of exhausting to evaluate. I’m positively hungry to maintain successful trophies.
“I can’t actually say that I’ve modified something. It’s humorous, the three wins I’ve had on the LPGA Tour, the weekend earlier than I’ve missed the lower.
“So it’s not an important successful recipe to overlook the week earlier than however I suppose kind doesn’t actually imply rather a lot which might generally be factor.
“I haven’t seemed into the season an excessive amount of, into stats or for no matter motive I got here out on high but it surely’s one thing I’ll look into.”
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Inexperienced is world No. 28 and nationally No. 2 behind Minjee Lee, however like her star rival she’s by no means been in a position to win the Australian Open.
“I can’t say that I’ve had the trophy in my hand and somebody has outplayed me, I simply haven’t performed in addition to I’d have favored.
“Successful golf tournaments is difficult, folks suppose that successful (simply occurs) however all the pieces has to align so that you can win a match.
“You must play very well and this can be a powerful trophy to win. I believe we put extra strain on ourselves as a result of we’re the favourites, I suppose.
“We need to please the group and end on outcome and it’s powerful to not take into consideration that from the opening spherical.
“There’s a lot golf to be performed and right here on the Aussie it’s a troublesome ending stretch so even when you have the benefit, even when you’re nonetheless a few holes behind, you possibly can’t suppose too far forward.”