FRISCO, Texas — Minjee Lee went into the final round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship with a four-stroke lead, and took a glance at every leaderboard she saw on the course. Even after some early bogeys, she stayed on top all day on way to her third major title.
''I knew exactly where I was in terms of like the scores,'' Lee said. ''But I just want to be clear. Like I definitely was nervous starting the day. I wasn't really sure if it was the heat that was making my heart beat more. ... I looked calm, but not as calm as everybody thinks."
Lee closed with a 2-over 74 while maintaining at least a two-stroke lead throughout the final round. Her 4-under 284 total was three strokes ahead of Auston Kim and Chanettee Wannasaen, the only other players to finish under par at wind-swept Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco.
Lee, the 29-year-old Australian who is a Texas resident, living in nearby Irving, got her 11th career win. She joined Karrie Webb (seven) and Jan Stephenson (three) as the only women from Australia to win three majors.
While Lee had three bogeys in a four-hole stretch midway through the front nine, playing partner Jeeno Thitikul, the world's No. 2-ranked player, bogeyed both par 5s that are among the first three holes. Still in search of her first major, Thitikul hit her first shot Sunday into the right rough on way to a 75 to finish at 1 over 289, tied for fourth with Chisato Iwai (71).
Lee, ranked 24th, took home $1.8 million of the record $12 million purse, which was up from $10.4 million a year ago and matched the U.S. Women's Open for the most prize money. She also got $1.8 million for her four-stroke win in the 2022 U.S. Women's Open.
Kim and Wannasaen both shot 68, the best rounds of the day and matching the best of the tournament after only two 68s combined the first three rounds. Kim was bogey-free, but had only pars after three consecutive birdies to wrap up her front nine.
''I'm really happy how I handled myself, my emotions, all the adversity,'' Kim said. ''There is obviously a lot on the line today, but I was chasing. I think that definitely helps. Took a lot of pressure off in the moment.''