KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

June 23, 2026

Minjee Lee

Hazeltine National Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Defending KPMG Women's PGA Championship Minjee Lee joins us now. Welcome to Hazeltine and what is your 12th KPMG Women's PGA Championship. A win for you last year in Frisco. How you feeling coming into this one?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I think it will be quite an exciting week. Obviously we're at really (audio skip) venue at Hazeltine National. Played last time in, was it '19 when Hannah won? So looking forward to seeing the course today. I haven't been out there yet, but I hear that it's in great condition and it's going to play pretty exciting.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. So, I mean, talking about this, but the highlights of just the Champions Dinner, what was the part you enjoyed the most last night?

MINJEE LEE: Definitely seeing all the past champions. I think that's a very special tradition that we -- that now I get to be a part of at KPMG.

And the main was the highlight. The main course, yeah.

Q. So we were talking about the announcement yesterday, 13 million dollar purse, no. And I think the general question is from your point of view, why is women's golf a good investment?

MINJEE LEE: I mean, great question. I think we've all known as professional athletes and as women, we've all known that we're a great investment. I think it's just kind of part of the movement on that trend of movement. I think a lot of companies and a lot of people are stepping up to be a part of that movement.

Obviously I think we've felt for a very long time that we deserve the same -- or I mean it's not the same, but it's getting better as what the men get as well.

We're going in the right direction, but we also have a little ways to go as well. Obviously having the purse up to 13 million now, I think it's the highest purse in all of our majors, and I think it just sets the bar and we just keep going from strength to strength.

Q. How have you changed as a person and golfer from, what, 12, this is your 12th?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, 12th year on Tour.

Q. What has changed about you as a person and a golfer?

MINJEE LEE: I think when you first come out on Tour, I came out on Tour when I was 18, so pretty much straight out of school; straight out of high school came out to America to play on the LPGA.

So I think back then I didn't really -- I kind of didn't know what I was getting myself into. I had a few experiences out playing in the U.S. when I was a junior and amateur. I think the professional schedule is a little bit different to when you're playing as an am, so I just -- the first few years I just kind of played every event just like any other rookie would trying to keep your card and get all the experience that you could get.

I think back then I just kind of enjoyed all the sparkly things about being on Tour. I think during -- now, like, you know I'm 30 now, so 18 and 30 is very different. I think as a person, I know who I am as a person now, and just more of the maturity side.

I know the things that I enjoy and liked to outside of golf so I think that was the biggest difference since I've been on Tour.

Q. Won last year; third major.

MINJEE LEE: Uh-huh.

Q. There is such an aura to majors. I don't know what's happened the last ten years or so. Grand slams. How much time do you give thought to winning that fourth and maybe doing all five?

MINJEE LEE: So I never even really thought about it until obviously I won KPMG last year and just people in the media or people around me have been talking about it a bit more.

To be fair, I don't really think about it too much, but whenever like British or Chevron come around it's like the hot topic. That's the only times I really think about it.

Obviously I have a chance at British and that would be awesome to be able to win the British, but I think there is no point in me putting extra pressure on myself just to get it done.

I've been on Tour for quite a while now, so I know it doesn't help me to put extra pressure on myself, especially in majors.

So I don't think I treat it any differently but do I think about it now again.

Q. Can you tell us about your first impressions of the golf course? You have memories of '19. And then being in the golf course that has been the site of a Ryder Cup, no, what does it mean?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, so when we played it last time I remember it was a little cooler and it was playing quite long. I'm not really sure if it's playing that similar. Obviously haven't been out there yet. But according to my caddie, it's playing a little bit differently.

But he did say you can still hit your shots to the green if you're in the rough, so maybe that's a little bit different from last time.

But I think it might -- maybe there is a bit more roll on the fairways. I'm not sure. I'll see.

Q. Looks like one thing we'll get is maybe some rain, the wind, and that's something that you kind of embrace really well last year, no, the tough conditions?

MINJEE LEE: Yes.

Q. How much would you embrace them this week?

MINJEE LEE: I think the course itself is totally different to Frisco. It's just maybe a different type of just like the layouts and the bunkering, just the look of it is very different.

I don't think it's that similar. So, I mean, I do like the wind so see how we go.

THE MODERATOR: All right, thanks for your time. We appreciate it.

MINJEE LEE: Thank you.