The dynamic duo Australian Open officials hoped for will line up in December’s historic event after world No.3 Minjee Lee committed to joining brother Min Woo at Victoria Golf Club.
For the first time, both the men’s and women’s events will be played on the same course at the same time and reigning US Open champ Minjee’s decision gives organisers just about every Australian star they could have hoped for in the line-up.
She joins the likes of fellow major champions Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Hannah Green for the Open, which the men will be playing for the first time since 2019 and the women since 2020.
Officials moved away from trying to offer appearance fees to big-name international stars as the Open resumes, content to back in the depth of Australian talent that is now playing on tours around the world.
Cameron Davis, who won the 2017 Australian Open, will return home after a stunning performance for the International team at last month’s Presidents Cup, where he played with Scott in the absence of LIV converts Smith and Marc Leishman.
Lucas Herbert is another US PGA Tour winner coming home, while Min Woo Lee is a two-time winner on the DP World Tour who last weekend went head-to-head with former world No.1 Jon Rahm for all four rounds of the Spanish Open, which Rahm won, eventually finishing third.
Only Jason Day remains a reluctant open participant as the world No.143 strives to maintain status on the US PGA Tour.
Minjee Lee is a two-time major winner who has collected just under $6m in 2022 having secured her second major with a stunning US Open triumph at Pine Needles in June.
The 26-year-old also won the LPGA’s Annika Award, which recognises the player who has the most outstanding record in all five major championships having also finished in a tie for second at the PGA Championship and a tie for fourth at the Women’s Open.
She took her time to commit to the Australian Open but declared it was a bucket-list win for her.
“When I did my schedule it wasn’t announced yet,” she said after her US Open win.
“There’s no greater honor than winning your national Open. I won the Aussie junior and the Aussie Am (Australian amateur championship), so the Aussie Open would top it off.”
The Australian Open will also have early rounds played at Kingston Heath before the final rounds at Victoria on December 3 and 4.
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