By: Max Bechtoldt
Coming into her final seven holes Saturday at the Scottish Open, Minjee Lee was sitting pretty well. She was still around the lead despite having a bit of a middling round. She birdied her second and third holes, but had seen all pars from there on a day with some good scores. Then the struggles hit.
On paper, it wasn’t a horrible day. Lee shot even par with the overnight lead, leaving her four back coming into the final round. She struck the ball well, hitting 14 greens despite missing some fairways. Her putter wasn’t strong, she had easily her most of the week with 32. But mistakes felt compounding on the back side.
There’s no better example than on the 18th hole. A hole that has a risky shot over a thin strip of water that makes going for it in two potentiall dangerous. Lee found that danger. After a solid drive, her ball rolled into the penalty area. Lee made bogey.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this out of Lee this year. Usually a player who should be trusted with the lead as one of the most well-rounded golfers on tour, Lee also fell apart a bit at the U.S. Women’s Open. Entering the final round with a share of the lead, and by far the most experience, Lee shot a +8 78 round to finish in ninth.
Lee’s season has been surprising, I myself predicted her to win the LPGA Tour Player of the Year Award. Lee ranks No. 50 in the CME Standings and has just three top-10 finishes and really hasn’t been in contention on the back nine on Sunday once.
Lee is one of the best players of the last 10 years on the LPGA Tour, it really can’t be debated. Sunday at the Scottish Open is a great chance for her to gain back some momentum before the final stretch of the season.
