Choi Hye-jin Ties for 4th "Tough Chase"... Lee Min-ji "Booked $1.8 Million Jackpot"

LPGA Tour Major US Women's Open Day 3: Ko Jin-young Ties for 4th, Lee Min-ji Leads by 3 Strokes, Haria in 2nd Place

Choi Hye-jin is teeing off at the 14th hole on the third day of the US Women's Open. Southern Pines (USA) = Getty Images / Photo by Multibits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] Choi Hye-jin (23) continues her tough chase.

On the 5th (Korean time), at the Southern Pines Pine Needles Lodge Golf Club (par 71, 6,638 yards) in North Carolina, USA, the third day of the LPGA Tour major US Women's Open (total prize money $10 million) ended with her faltering at 1-over par, dropping to a tie for 4th place (6-under par 207). Minjee Lee (Australia) posted 4-under par to take a 3-shot lead (13-under par 200), securing the LPGA Tour's record-breaking winner's prize of $1.8 million (2.25 billion KRW) jackpot.

Choi Hye-jin surged to a tie for 3rd place with a 7-under par daily best the previous day. Her 3 birdies, 4 bogeys, and 1-over par today were disappointing. This tournament is especially known as the "Promised Land," where she finished 2nd as an amateur in 2017. She said, "My putting was off early but came back in the latter half." Korea's world No. 1 Ko Jin-young (27) joined the tie for 4th, and "Match Queen" Ji Eun-hee (36, Hanwha Q CELLS) secured a tie for 10th place (5-under par 208).

Minjee Lee showed remarkable consistency with 4-under par in round 1, 5-under par in round 2, and 4-under par in round 3. She is poised to claim her second win of the season following the Founders Cup on the 16th of last month. Her 200 strokes are also a new 54-hole record low for this tournament. It is likely she will break the 72-hole record low (272 strokes) held by Juli Inkster (USA), Annika Sorenstam (Sweden), and Jeon In-ji (28). An even-par final round is enough, and 4-under par would surpass Inkster's record for most under par (16-under).

The last Australian to win the US Women's Open was Karrie Webb (Australia) in 2001. If Minjee Lee wins, it will be after a long 21 years. She expressed confidence, saying, "Records are meant to be broken," and "I will try to make as many birdies as possible tomorrow." Mina Harigae (USA) is in 2nd place (10-under par 203), and Bronte Law (England) is in 3rd place (7-under par 206), both looking for opportunities. No. 2 Nelly Korda (USA) remained in 14th place (4-under par 209).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.