Sleep, food, and rest were top of mind for Minjee Lee following a day of sweltering competition at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore. The three-time major champion, who is beginning her 12th season on the LPGA Tour, knows that recovery is going to be essential for Sunday’s final round at Sentosa Golf Club where she’ll be squaring off against none other than her longtime friend, teammate, and compatriot in Hannah Green. The pair are tied atop the leaderboard at 11-under par.

“I'm not sure how much practice I'll do because I'm melting away right now,” Lee said after her round on Saturday in which the heat index climbed into the mid 90s. “I think because I kind of know what to expect when I come here, I know it's going to be hot but once you're playing, it's just try and have as much fluids as you can and keep hydrated and have good recovery and rest. I think because I'm not as young as I used to be, so just recovery is more the key now than anything.”

There are few players competing on the LPGA Tour who have known each other as well, and as long, as Lee and Green.

The duo grew up in Perth in Western Australia and climbed the junior ranks, both benefitting from the guidance and mentorship of fellow Aussie legend, Karrie Webb. The pair ascended to the LPGA Tour, Lee, joining in 2015 and Green three years later in 2018. Both are 29 years old and have twice represented Australia alongside each other in the summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2021 and Paris in 2024. Lee and Green have also been teammates at the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown in 2023 and most recently in 2025 when Team Australia was victorious.

“I don't actually feel like we've played that much over years together,” Lee said after a round of 69 on Saturday which put her in a tie at the top of the leaderboard. “I think it will be a fun challenge tomorrow. I'm sure we'll have a good time, anyway.”

Lee says that she played practice rounds with Green and her husband, Jarryd, who is on the bag this week for his wife, during the off-season in Australia when both she and Green took an extended break from the Tour. Green made her season debut last week in Thailand while Lee opted to begin her season in Singapore at the HSBC Women’s World Championship. The 2015 LPGA Tour rookie has continued to extend her off-season in recent years, going from two weeks to seven weeks during her career.

“I put the clubs away for quite a while. I think probably the longest time I've had away from the clubs since I turned pro,” Lee said about her off-season. “Went on holiday. Did some gym work and just kind of started training like a month before this event. So yeah, I felt like the time went really quickly but also very slowly, if that makes sense.”

Lee is beginning her season in Singapore for the fourth time in the last five years. It’s a place where she’s been able to gauge the state of her game and also where she’s also been able to find some early season success with runner-up finishes in both 2019 and 2022. And with enough rest, recovery, and sleep she’ll have a chance on Sunday to, for the first time, possibly begin her year with a win.

“I felt like it was playing a little more trickier today for some reason, maybe the pin placements were a little bit tougher. I know a few of the tees were up but it just felt like they were a little bit harder than the last two days,” said Lee, who managed to drop just a single shot on Saturday but struggled with 30 putts. “I think that's what a great championship should be like, anyways. Just trying to play the best that I can and manage the heat the best that I can.”

Minjee Lee Resting up for Final Round in Singapore Alongside Friend and Teammate

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