Republic of Korea native Mi Hyang Lee cruised to a final-round 67 and a share of third at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, following a roller-coaster day that saw her make two bogeys, five birdies and an eagle.
Lee got off to a hot start on Sunday in Singapore with birdies on her first three holes to move to 7-under overall before she dropped a shot on No. 4 to slip back to 6-under. She carded another birdie on No. 7 and made the turn in 33, but it wouldn’t be until her eagle, birdie, bogey finish Lee would move from a tie for 12th to a tie for third.
“Today I was super tired because it was super hot the last two weeks and here,” Lee said. “Just trying to make the fairway and make the green and make the putt. Maybe simple is best.”
The 30-year-old hit 14 of 18 greens in the final round, averaging 28 putts for the tournament. While Lee felt like she got off to a good start, only making one bogey on the front nine, it was her patience and decision-making on the back nine that moved her up the leaderboard and gave her a shot at LPGA Tour win number three, which would have been her first victory since the 2017 Women’s Scottish Open.
“It was really good patience on the back nine before the eagle,” Lee said of her final nine holes. “It was a really good decision to hit the second shot on the par 5, so thanks to my caddie to go one club longer. Then a good putt. Next hole, I had good confidence with the left-to-right uphill putt, so it was great. The last hole was a little annoying to me, but it was great to try to be on the green and make the birdie. But it was a hard decision from the rough, and then wind a little swirling in here today. It was a really hard bunker shot, and I made a bogey there.”
While she ultimately didn’t win, the two-time LPGA Tour winner is now feeling confident heading into next week’s Blue Bay LPGA after racing up the leaderboard at Sentosa Golf Club.
“I have really tough golf last few years, and then was really good come back last year, as well,” Lee said. “It was a good start to the LPGA Drive On Championship, actually, for me, and it was super windy there, but I had a really good shot there. I had a lot of confidence from there, too, and it was great last round in Thailand, as well. So I think it was good golfing now.”
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