There was just one participant being stopped, by different gamers, for photographs across the packed apply inexperienced at Victoria Golf Membership on Tuesday.
Minjee Lee’s presence looms giant over the primary ever dual-gender Australian Open and the world No.5 posed for a couple of excited fellow professionals as an acknowledgment of her star-status which might not be fairly mirrored at residence.
However any sense the two-time main winner is an “invisible champion” to an Australian sporting public who hoist winners larger than most may very well be put to mattress if the long run Karrie Webb sees for Lee involves move.
Webb is arguably Australia’s most profitable golfer, her seven majors greater than any of her compatriots, Peter Thomson‘s’s 5, all Open Championships, subsequent finest.
However she sees in 26-year-old Lee, who gained the toughest main of all of them in a four-shot romp at this 12 months’s US Open, all of the substances to take Webb’s file on.
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Webb even thinks Lee may very well be “off a working” on her strategy to a number of majors with two within the financial institution already.
“There’s quite a lot of nice gamers that ought to have gained extra majors so it’s not it’s not about not being able to do it. It’s, , being in the best place on the proper time after which getting the job completed,” Webb, who will be a part of Lee within the subject at this week’s Open, mentioned.
“However I actually assume that, , I feel Minjee now getting that couple of majors below her belt, I feel particularly an enormous one just like the US Open, I feel she’ll type of be off and working with majors.
“And , whether or not she’s profitable all of them, she’ll undoubtedly be contending so much.”
Hannah Inexperienced gained a significant herself in 2019, however conceded that when herself and Lee aren’t profitable the eye they get “ dies off a bit bit”.
However that hasn’t take the gloss off a banner 12 months from Lee, which resulted in her ending simply behind Lydia Ko within the participant of the 12 months stakes.
“It occurs and possibly occurs in all different sports activities. However I imply, I wouldn’t take into account Minji invisible,” Inexperienced mentioned.
“I imply she virtually bought to world primary this 12 months, gained two occasions, certainly one of then was the US Open, she’s made some huge cash in her profession. She undoubtedly shouldn’t be thought of like that for me.”
In her personal proper, Webb is each bit a family title in Australia after a Corridor of Fame profession which included stints as world No.1.
Lee bought shut in 2022, rising to No.2 earlier than tailing off late, however nonetheless netting greater than $5 million in earnings.
Consideration apart Webb, who has stayed intently concerned with so lots of the gifted feminine Australian golfers plying their commerce world wide, thinks there’s one thing essential in Lee’s recreation which might guarantee her time within the focus will solely develop.
“It’s the temperament. She doesn’t get too excessive or too low. And for me, I feel that‘s one of the simplest ways to play golf,” Webb mentioned.
“I feel that the ups and downs and feelings, it’s laborious sufficient on the market with out making an attempt to select your self up or deliver your self down , so making an attempt to remain as whilst doable is an effective, good asset to have.”
