Australians provided a bevy of big wins in 2021 but only one player won a major which elevated her above all others.
Minjee Lee has become just the second two-time winner of the Greg Norman medal after her major championship breakthrough headlined a banner year for Australian golfers around the world and one she said she’ll “never forget”.
Just two days after Queenslander Cameron Smith, last year’s Greg Norman medallist, won the first US PGA Tour event of 2022 in Hawaii, Lee was recognised for her stunning 2021 achievements which included her major triumph at the Evian Championship.
The 25-year-old superstar, who was the first female to win the Greg Norman medal in 2018, finished last year ranked number seven in the world on the back of her win and seven top-five finishes on the LPGA Tour.
Her major triumph was stunning too, coming back from a seven-stroke deficit to defeat Jeongeun Lee6 to join Jan Stephenson, Karrie Webb and Hannah Green as Australia’s only winners of women’s major championships.
“Winning a major championship was the realisation of a lifelong dream and to be able to cap it off with the Greg Norman Medal makes it even more special,” Lee said.
“There were so many outstanding results by Australian golfers in 2021 so to be recognised in this way is a great honour.”
Despite her own stunning success in 2021, Lee’s second medal win was no walk-up after a bulk group of victories from Australians including two from Lucas Herbert who won on both the European and US PGA Tour, a feat not accomplished by any Australian since Adam Scott in 2009.
Herbert, who broke into the world top 50 for the first time, led from start to finish in winning the Irish Open then secured his first trip to the Masters wit victory at the US PGA Tour’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship, just his third event after securing his tour card and.
Lee’s younger brother, Min Woo, also broke in to the world top 50, and will also play at Augusta in April on the back of his win in the Scottish Open, which earned him a first nomination for the Greg Norman medal.
“The fact that my brother was also nominated is also a great source of pride and joy for our family,” Lee said.
“Being awarded the Greg Norman Medal in 2018 was a significant achievement in my career and winning it for a second time only adds to a year that I’ll never forget.”
GREG NORMAN MEDALLISTS
2021 Minjee Lee
2020 Cameron Smith
2019 Hannah Green
2018 Minjee Lee
2017 Marc Leishman
2016 Jason Day
2015 Jason Day
Originally published as Minjee Lee has won a second Greg Norman medal after a stunning 2021 season
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