If it’s true you have to beat the best to be the best, Minjee Lee has her chance this week.
Perth’s Lee, world No.2, has drawn the marquee group alongside Korean superstars Jin Young Ko and Inbee Park for the first two rounds of the US Women’s Open this week.
The trio, all of whom have claims as the world’s best player, will headline a brilliant field that will contain seven Australian women going around the Country Club of Charleston layout in South Carolina.
But the focus will fall on Lee, who can usurp Ko at the top of the world rankings with victory this week at the crowning event on the LPGA Tour schedule.
Lee will play off the 10th tee from 7.44am (local time) on Thursday, before starting her second round at 1.29pm (local time) off the first tee.
Victorian amateur Gabi Ruffels will make her major championship debut in a two-ball alongside Thailand’s Saranporn Langkulgasettrin off the 10th tee at 8.50am.
The other four Aussies in the field are away in the afternoon on day one, with Hannah Green off at 1.07pm, Sarah Kemp at 1.18pm, Karrie Webb at 1.29 – alongside Laura Davies and Leona Maguire – and two more together with Su Oh and Katherine Kirk grouped with Korean Mirim Lee at 2.02pm.
Fox Sports will cover the tournament live all four days, beginning on Channel 506 from 4.30am (AET) each morning for the first three rounds and then 4am (AET) on Monday for the final round.