(THEME MUSIC)
Hello.
Becoming one of the world's best golfers
is an incredible achievement.
But for the same family to produce two of them, it's just next level.
Minjee and Min Woo Lee
are the bright lights Minjee and Min Woo Lee
are the bright lights of Australian golf right now,
and their affectionate sibling rivalry
not only spurs them to greater heights,
it also helps them withstand the game's notorious mental pressure.
MAN: Minjee Lee is known as
one of the very best players in the world of golf.
She's been in the top 10 in the women's rankings for a long time.
Minjee's brother Min Woo is a rising star
who has just cracked the top 50 in the world,
and he's a real personality.
They are the star duo of Australian golf at the moment.
MAN: You know, Minjee's the elder of the pair,
and she's certainly got his measure in golf.
He doesn't like to think so sometimes.
He doesn't like to think so MIN WOO: We're very competitive.
I mean, I never... MIN WOO: We're very competitive.
I mean, I never... I'm inwardly and he's outwardly.
Yeah, I never want to lose.
MAN: We've seen him grow up with his sister,
MAN: We've seen him grow up almost in her shadow, in a way.
So I think that competition comes from
So I think a really healthy sibling rivalry.
MINJEE: The rivalry is bigger for him. I think he likes that.
It's a bit of motivation for him and it's motivation for me too.
I think they push each other.
I think that, you know, without one,
their performances probably wouldn't be as good.
They're highly driven.
Highly demanding of themselves.
They want to succeed.
My hair look OK?
Yeah. Your forehead's, like, My hair look OK?
Yeah. Your forehead's, like, super clear.
It's like double pimple. I hate that. I had that too here.
But it's like you pop it and then the pus comes out,
and then there's another one.
Yeah.
Acne. It's a human problem. It's OK. Yeah, it is.
Yeah, we're spreading...we're spreading...we're spreading it.
Yeah, we're spreading...we're We all have it, yeah.
MAN: We always say that Minjee We all have it, yeah.
MAN: We always say that Minjee and Min Woo are like Yin and Yang.
In one hand we have the scientist, almost the crazy scientist. MAN: We always say that Minjee and Min Woo are like Yin and Yang.
In one hand we have the scientist, almost the crazy scientist.
She's so disciplined, so demanding,
willing to explore every avenue.
And then on the other hand, you have the artist
who doesn't give a rat's about the science.
They want to play with flair and...and be expressive
They want to play with flair and just have fun.
A lot of people
would describe me as a squiggly line,
and my sister was a dead straight line.
I didn't really want to practise, I didn't really...
I just wanted to play with my friends and...
He's very talented, very skilful. I just wanted to play with my friends and...
He's very talented, very skilful.
Um, for me, it's more learnt.
Minjee and Min Woo are very, very different. Um, for me, it's more learnt.
Minjee and Min Woo are very, very different.
Uh, Min Woo is a complete extrovert
while Minjee's an introvert by nature.
MAN: They're two totally different people,
playing in totally different ways, totally different people,
playing in totally different ways,
but having as much success as each other.
Amazing situation.
MAN: The Australian Open is a massive golf tournament
for both the men and the women.
It's kind of the holy grail to their careers.
So there's an enormous amount of expectations It's kind of the holy grail to their careers.
So there's an enormous amount of expectations
placed on the top Australian golfers
to perform in the Australian Open.
MAN: Minjee Lee has a great chance of winning this event.
She's in good form, top five player in the world.
But no Aussie woman has won the Australian Open since 2014. She's in good form, top five player in the world.
But no Aussie woman has won the Australian Open since 2014.
MINJEE: The Australian Open has always been
MINJEE: The Australian Open the biggest hurdle, I'd say,
um, because I think I do put more pressure,
especially on, like, myself.
You know, it's been so many years and I haven't even been close.
WOMAN: I think Australian Open is the one that she really wants.
She's been playing well this last half of the year,
so it's definitely not out of reach.
It's almost a battle against herself.
EVIN: Min Woo had just won
the Australian PGA Championship EVIN: Min Woo had just won
the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane
and it was his first real major win in Australia,
so he arrived at the Australian Open
so he arrived as the odds-on favourite to win
and a lot of pressure and expectations.
And, of course, you know, the big question was, "Can he do the double?
And, of course, you know, the big "Can he go back to back?"
I know this week's as important as last week,
so I'm feeling pretty good.
Obviously if I can play similar golf, um, I'll be right up there.
Obviously if I can play similar So, um, I'm looking forward to it.
BRETT: It is a very tough sport to master.
To choose this sport as a career is crazy.
To choose this sport as a career To excel at it is incredible.
And to have two people from the same family is just extraordinary.
MINJEE: My parents are from South Korea.
They got married in South Korea,
and then they came over They got married in South Korea,
and then they came over to live in Perth,
and then they came over like, pretty much before I was born.
Mum, she was a golf instructor,
and my dad was a swimming teacher in Korea.
And then when he came over here, he did panel beating.
When we were little,
I don't know if Min Woo and I When we were little,
I don't know if Min Woo and I were that...that close.
MIN WOO: We're probably closer now than...
MIN WOO: We're probably closer now Yeah.
..just 'cause Yeah.
..just 'cause we're a bit more mature.
I think we fought a lot. I always... Yeah.
I think we fought a lot. Yeah, we fought a lot. Yeah.
I always annoyed Minjee
and she always got pissed off at me, so...
I think I was much more mature for my age,
especially being the first born to a Korean-background family.
I felt like I needed to...
Set the tone.
Yeah, like, set... be a good role model
and just, um, do...kind of do a lot of things right.
Maybe that's why Min Woo's, in my eyes, he was so naughty.
But, um... Yeah. Yeah, in a way.
That's what little kids are meant to be.
Yeah, in a way, like, Minjee didn't react well to things,
Yeah, in a way, like, so I...as in annoying things,
so I loved stirring... stirring the pot a little bit.
Typical. Typical. And I still do that.
With my friends and family, I still do that.
Our parents played a lot of sport
and we were just always around that energy and competitive vibe.
I think the competitiveness. Yeah.
They were very competitive. They're super competitive.
We had the desire to win, which, um...was...was a big thing, yeah.
The first time we came to Royal Fremantle
was probably when I was around 8 or 9 years old.
RITCHIE: You just gonna flick some out?
Was I meant to...? Was I gonna hit this one or this one?
Uh, that one. This one.
I met her on a driving range somewhere,
and the thing that I noticed about Minjee, she stuck to task.
Not too high with that upper arm.
Just keep the elbow down.
Yeah.
So when you talked to her,
she looked at you in a way that she was taking everything in,
but she didn't say much.
And then she goes and does it.
OK, let's just get some... bit more structure
OK, let's just get some... through those shoulders there.
Just looking a little bit... OK.
She hit it great. She hit it great.
But she would work.
You know she's a...12 years old at the time
and she's doing a 60-hour practice week.
But she's also exceptionally smart
and almost dux of her year at school.
So, you know, that's not a normal human.
I don't do anything halfway.
Like, if I'm going to do something, I'll put my 100% into it.
So when I came to practise, I was serious.
Mum, Clara, was originally a coach,
coached her from a younger age,
so she was fairly involved.
Clara used to come to so she was fairly involved.
Clara used to come to every lesson that we did
Clara used to come to up until maybe the age of 15.
And then I went to the States for the first time.
COMMENTATOR: Minjee Lee.
The Aussie...
..wins the 64th US Girls Junior Championship.
She was the first ever Australian to win the US Girls Junior,
which was a massive deal. to win the US Girls Junior,
which was a massive deal.
I really wanted it badly,
so I just...picked up my performance. I really wanted it badly,
so I just...picked up my performance.
Do you think there's gonna be a few more of these USGA championships
in your future?
Definitely, yep.
Oh, I'm coming. I'm coming.
EVIN: And that really put her on the radar, not only of Australians,
EVIN: And that really put her on but Americans as well.
And...and from there, her career
really just sort of took off and blossomed.
MIN WOO: Yeah, I started when I was about eight years old.
MIN WOO: Yeah, I started You know, joined here at Royal Freo.
When I was a kid, it was always an old man's sport,
you know, wearing tucked-in pants and stuff like that.
RITCHIE: Min Woo is a cheeky,
uh, funny,
competitive little bugger.
But he's a ripper kid.
Min Woo was talented even when he was little.
He was always trying to, um, you know,
play games with his friends and do all the cool stuff, you know,
play games with his friends like, show off and...
If Min Woo didn't train as hard as Minjee
then people would think,
"Well, there's a reason why he isn't as good."
When someone's so good at it in your family,
When someone's so good at it you don't really want to do it.
I was good, but I wasn't like, you know, on her level. you don't really want to do it.
I was good, but I wasn't like, you know, on her level.
So it kind of, I was in her shadow, you know, from such a young age.
It was like, "Min Woo is Minjee's brother,"
or something like "Minjee's brother, Min Woo," or something like that.
So I think the more you hear it, the more he felt like that. or something like "Minjee's brother, Min Woo," or something like that.
So I think the more you hear it, the more he felt like that.
RITCHIE: I would say that at the age of 14,
there was no way in the world Min was gonna be a golfer.
Just treat golf as a bit of fun.
But I think a switch flicked when he was about 15
and he started to take it a bit more seriously.
Soon enough he started coming down with Minjee with me
and, yeah, he started to improve.
Both of them improved by being together.
EVIN: As Min Woo started to become an elite teenage amateur,
EVIN: As Min Woo started to become he started competing in America
and he won the US Boys Junior,
which is really the US Open for kids.
Min Woo, this is yours. Thank you.
It's down in history that we're brothers and sisters
It's down in history that that won the same tournament.
So it's...it feels great.
And from there, Min Woo's career just launched.
BRETT: No golf event is easy to win.
In a sport like golf, you lose far more often than you win.
They're big fields.
You're up against 150-odd other golfers in most tournaments,
and the reality is they're all trying to win a lot of money.
And, of course, there's your own nerves as well.
ANNOUNCER: First on the tee from WA, Minjee Lee.
I think I just go into the event quite nervous.
You just really want to win for your supporters
and also just win for yourself in your home country.
MAN: Oh, yeah.
EVIN: It's often said, like, you know,
the most challenging golf course in the world
is the six-inch course between your ears.
And that mental game is really what separates
the good players from the great players.
COMMENTATOR: Back to Minjee Lee. the good players from the great players.
COMMENTATOR: Back to Minjee Lee.
BRETT: Minjee started poorly in her first round at the Australian Open.
Her putting was letting her down.
COMMENTATOR: She's never quite had the assertiveness required
to roll smoothly. had the assertiveness required
to roll smoothly.
She appeared hesitant at times,
making mistakes she wouldn't otherwise make.
That's what everyone did yesterday. Missed it to the right.
And the pressure was certainly building
across those first couple of rounds. was certainly building
across those first couple of rounds.
COMMENTATOR: Oh, she's had a day like that.
Nothing went in today for Minjee.
At the end of the first two days,
Minjee was tied for 12th, seven shots behind the lead.
It's very tough to come from that far back
It's very tough after two days of golf,
especially against a very competitive field.
ANNOUNCER: On the tee, we have from WA, please welcome Min Woo Lee.
On the first day of the Australian Open,
Min Woo teed off just before his sister
Min Woo teed off and he got off to a stronger start.
MIN WOO: You kind of want to go out with a good mentality and feel like
you don't have too much expectations. MIN WOO: You kind of want to go out with a good mentality and feel like
you don't have too much expectations.
I feel like that's when you play good.
CROWD: Yeah! when you play good.
CROWD: Yeah!
At the end of the day, one shot at a time,
got to play as good as I can.
The crowd's there for me. Awesome.
EVIN: Min Woo is really exciting.
in a swashbuckling way.
He plays the game in a swashbuckling way.
COMMENTATOR: Min Woo from the bunker.
And it makes him really incredible to watch.
COMMENTATOR: Oh, how good's this?
What a shot! What a player! What a showman!
EVIN: We saw Min Woo
try this incredible shot out of the pine straw
and hooked it over and around the water and onto the green
and close to the flag. the water and onto the green
and close to the flag.
COMMENTATOR: You are kidding me!
Min Woo Lee!
Catch him if you can!
BRETT: Min Woo leads the field by three shots going into the weekend.
BRETT: Min Woo leads the field by He's placed really well.
He's in superb form in all facets of his game,
so the pressure is on him now to hold that lead into Sunday.
I turned pro end of 2014.
First four years felt like a blur, 'cause it just went by so quickly.
It was just, like "Go, go, go."
EVIN: Minjee joined the American tour and later moved to America.
And over the next seven years she won frequently
but hadn't cracked that major championship yet.
The majors are golf's grand slams, if you like, to use tennis parlance.
The majors are golf's grand slams, And the winners of those events
are generally the best of the best and the most celebrated.
That's always a tough situation to be in
when...when you've won quite a few times
and then you're deemed to be the best player not to have won a major.
It's a tough tag to have.
There were articles, like, just regular people talking about it.
I was like, "Oh, it's just, like, too much."
EVIN: The Evian Championship in France.
It's one of the most sort of sought-after majors, you know,
sort of behind the Women's British Open and the US Women's Open.
sort of behind the Women's British Evian was kind of unexpected.
Like, that year Evian was kind of unexpected.
Like, that year I wasn't really having a great, um,
Like, that year first half of the year.
EVIN: Minjee wound up in a play-off with Lee Jeong-eun,
and play-offs happen when players are tied after 72 holes.
and play-offs happen when players They're a really intense battle
because it's coming down to They're a really intense battle
because it's coming down to those last couple of players
because it's coming down to to try and win the title.
COMMENTATOR: Short putt for Minjee Lee to take the lead.
She's never been this close to a major championship title.
The Aussie rules.
Minjee Lee is finally a major champion.
It just felt like it was a long time coming
and it was more like...I was happy, but it was, like, relief as well.
COMMENTATOR: Just impressive golf today. (LAUGHS)
It was massive.
Like, she wanted to be a major winner and she hadn't been it.
Winning Evian was the monkey off the back.
EVIN: We saw her a year later, in 2022,
become the first Australian player since the great Karrie Webb
become the first Australian player to win the US Women's Open.
When I was little, that's the one I always watched
When I was little, and the one I always wanted to win.
After she won, I called and I got all emotional
'cause I was just so proud of what she had done.
She just said, like,
they were jumping out of their chairs when I won.
they were jumping out of their chairs So, um, it was pretty...
It was nice. It was very nice.
The US Open high was so high,
like, it went for a long time,
and it was actually kind of hard to reset my goals.
KARRIE: I know after the US Open she did struggle.
I just had maybe a year or so that I kind of wasn't quite there.
So I was hearing from other players and caddies that, you know...
You know, I was asking, "What's going on with Minjee?"
It was just like nothing was coming together
and I couldn't string together, like, four good rounds.
There's something about golf you can't control.
COMMENTATOR: It should be
for Minjee.
just a little off the right here for Minjee.
There's a lot of pressure
when you're in front of thousands There's a lot of pressure
when you're in front of thousands of people playing
and, you know, they expect you to hold it. of people playing
and, you know, they expect you to hold it.
COMMENTATOR: Just sliding another one by.
You want to be so good Just sliding another one by.
You want to be so good
that you try so hard and you can't do it
and then you...you're so harsh on yourself.
RITCHIE: In 2022, at the Australian Open,
she missed, you know, 12 putts, I think, inside three feet.
She lost the tournament because of her putting, for sure.
I think everyone was anxious about it at that point.
Yeah, I think she was very anxious.
She knew that it could go south.
Well, it'd already gone south and... but it could go further south.
KARRIE: So we got to talk about it a little bit.
The struggles, I think more just the expectations.
You think every single week that you play is life and death,
and you have to be at your best every week,
and you have to be at your best and if you're not, it's a failure.
Um, and so, um, it's tiring to live like that.
Can you set a couple of putts first?
Just make sure you've got your speed right.
Just make sure Just to touch the dot?
No, I want it to touch the metal bar behind the hole.
We certainly looked at every reason
why the putting was being fixated on.
And then just put in a really strong training effort.
Oh, that was bad too.
It was never like, "Oh, I'm going to quit."
Like, I would never quit in anything. It was never like, "Oh, I'm going to quit."
Like, I would never quit in anything.
I just kind of tried to drive it out with more hard work.
So, um, I just put in a lot of hours.
Jeez, that's got better, hasn't it?
Yeah.
Like when...when I first started even, like, middle of last year.
Like when...when I first started Yeah.
She stuck to plan and she believed in what she was doing Yeah.
She stuck to plan and she believed in what she was doing
She stuck to plan and she believed and she got the result.
Well, she's 90% of the way to getting the result.
MIN WOO: You know, I turned pro just before COVID,
so I got to experience that lonely part
'cause we couldn't interact and be with other people as much.
Yeah, it wasn't easy.
Like, I kind of had to rely on social media for...for...
..some interaction. That's how you engaged.
And, you know, a lot of text messaging, a lot of, you know,
interacting with fans and spectators.
Whoo!
So he gets better the more pressure is on.
So he gets better When COVID hit,
he went and played the European Tour
and no-one was actually there at the events.
He was terrible.
I didn't win for two years
and felt like I was doing I didn't win for two years
and felt like I was doing all the right things.
But, yeah, there are a lot of losing in golf.
As soon as the crowds came back, he came back.
And he's starting to be the golfer that he's destined to be.
ANNOUNCER: The irrepressible Min Woo Lee
ANNOUNCER: style, swagger,
shotmaking
and our outright leader at 12 under.
COMMENTATOR: He is the man with the hot hand at the moment.
COMMENTATOR: Getting it chasing out, though,
feeding up to the flag! Getting it chasing out, though,
feeding up to the flag!
In for eagle!
Min Woo Lee!
COMMENTATOR: Sensational!
RITCHIE: And now he's, you know,
he's moved up maybe 20 spots in the world rankings this year,
he's moved up maybe 20 spots he's had a couple of wins,
and he's become competitive he's had a couple of wins,
and he's become competitive at the highest levels.
I want to be the world number one golfer.
I think it's definitely possible. I definitely have the game.
And if I get more consistent and better
And if I get and...work on the right things.
COMMENTATOR: Tester here for his par, which he makes. and...work on the right things.
COMMENTATOR: Tester here for his par, which he makes.
KARRIE: Min Woo is a marketer's dream, I think.
You saw the crowds in Australia respond to him.
His energy is...is it's fun.
COMMENTATOR: He's cooking
and he's got the thunderclap going as well.
EVIN: Min Woo we created this catchphrase, "Let him cook."
And it first appeared on his social media channels.
And basically what it means is be patient, And it first appeared on his social media channels.
And basically what it means is be patient,
let him cook, and something special will happen.
COMMENTATOR: He's got them up and about.
COMMENTATOR: Are you not entertained?
COMMENTATOR: Look at Min Woo Lee go.
But he taps in for a win to remember.
Min Woo Lee.
EVIN: I like to call Min Woo Lee part of the post-TikTok generation.
He's really willing to interact with social media,
He's really willing to interact with the fans,
and post videos interact with the fans,
and post videos that give fans a back door
and funny window into the world of professional golf,
because for so long it has been so serious.
Yeah, hold it there. Keep going, keep going.
Yeah, hold it there. Love it. Thank you.
BRETT: Minjee's personality is very different to her brother.
BRETT: Minjee's personality She's introverted.
She doesn't chase the spotlight as much.
She doesn't push herself on social media in the same sort of way.
EVIN: She's one of the greatest golfers ever
EVIN: She's one of the greatest in the history of Australia
and she's not on the back pages in the history of Australia
and she's not on the back pages maybe as often as she should be.
KARRIE: Yeah, she definitely deserves to be spoken about
in the same conversation as a lot of the top female athletes,
and she kind of gets left out of... in the same conversation as a lot of the top female athletes,
and she kind of gets left out of...
..out of that conversation a little bit.
RITCHIE: I think she feels snubbed,
but she also recognises that,
"I don't really go out of my way to make an effort either,
"I don't really go out of my way "so I get it."
Cosi, Cosi. Cosi.
Would she like more support?
Yeah, absolutely.
I would want to do a bit more social media and things like that,
I would want to do a bit more but it's also...a work in progress.
It's like, yeah, but it's hard,
like, when you're not that kind of person, yeah.
All the best, Minjee! Thank you.
Good luck. Good luck.
Final day of the Australian Open, it was really windy,
so I was like, "Oh, I might have a chance."
BRETT: At the start of the final day,
Minjee was seven shots behind the leader,
which is a significant deficit to make up, Minjee was seven shots behind the leader,
which is a significant deficit to make up,
but she has won from there before.
COMMENTATOR: This for birdie at the first.
That one in the middle.
Don't be surprised if she makes a run at it today.
Now Minjee Lee here at the second down the hill, the par three,
back to back birdies. second down the hill, the par three,
back to back birdies.
BRETT: Minjee started very strongly in her final round.
Hole by hole she closes the gap on the leader
and we're thinking, "OK, here we go."
The winds are getting stronger here by the minute.
Minjee Lee for birdie.
Oh, hello! Cracking!
Oh, hello! Cracking, and in!
BRETT: She continued to fight in those final holes
and close the gap,
and she was still a chance right till the very end.
COMMENTATOR: I'd love to put a heart rate monitor
on players coming down the stretch.
Surely they are nervous.
Here's Minjee Lee trailing behind by one,
unless she holes this. trailing behind by one,
unless she holes this.
BRETT: So in the end, Minjee makes up all that ground
BRETT: So in the end, to lose by one shot.
And Minjee Lee, runner-up here at the Women's Australian Open.
Yeah, overall I think I, you know, I did, I had a good final day.
You know, I still gave it my best shot, like I always do.
I hope to win it one day
and, um, that would be awesome.
Just a four iron for Min Woo Lee.
Straight down a strengthening breeze here at number three.
Straight down a strengthening breeze Had trouble here yesterday.
EVIN: So Sunday morning of the Australian Open, Had trouble here yesterday.
EVIN: So Sunday morning of the Australian Open,
Min Woo was probably really feeling the pressure of...
He was all over the news. He was in the lead.
All eyes were on him. He was in the lead.
All eyes were on him.
COMMENTATOR: This one just out to the right as well.
This needs to carry.
It was... Like, I couldn't sleep.
I was very, like, amped up
because, you know, you're in the lead
because, you know, and you think it could come easy,
but, you know, it's even harder.
BRETT: Min Woo faltered early.
He missed a few putts he otherwise should have made.
Min Woo Lee going in the wrong direction on Sunday
and his frustrations are growing.
EVIN: The conditions on Sunday were really tough
and he just got sort of chased down by the pack.
Min Woo with the driver. and he just got sort of chased down by the pack.
Min Woo with the driver.
BRETT: Min Woo had to nail that final hole
to be a chance to stay in,
but he hits his tee shot to be a chance to stay in,
but he hits his tee shot into the trees.
COMMENTATOR: And Min Woo Lee will come up at least one short here.
COMMENTATOR: And Min Woo Lee will And he eventually finished third.
Yeah, Aussie Open left a little sour taste in my mouth.
I thought I should have won that tournament too,
but, um, yeah, it didn't go my way.
I think you learn a lot of things when you have a tougher time,
than learning things when you have a great time.
Especially in golf, like, you fail a lot more times
Especially in golf, than you succeed or you win.
MAN: Thank you. than you succeed or you win.
MAN: Thank you. Thank you!
MAN: Thank you. I'm very resilient. I'm very patient.
You know, golf teaches you to do that.
You know, golf teaches you BOY: Min Woo, can I have a photo?
MIN WOO: It's a tough sport. It's not easy.
Just don't take it harshly, and little wins along the way.
Well done.
I'll be moving to America this year.
I've always wanted to do it as a little kid
and play on the American tour and play against the best,
and play on the American tour so it'll be fun.
There you go.
RITCHIE: We have to acknowledge that they are not normal kids.
RITCHIE: We have to acknowledge They go to work every day
not knowing They go to work every day
not knowing they're gonna get a pay cheque.
So, you know, they both thrive in uncertain situations.
They are unsure every day of their life.
And what an amazing way to live.
You know, I think our end goal is to become, you know,
You know, I think our end goal the best player in the world, so...
We are ongoing. the best player in the world, so...
We are ongoing. Yeah.
We are getting there. Yeah.
We are getting there. And I've gotten close and, um, but...
She'll get there. She'll get there. I think I can get there, yeah.
Oh, yeah. Not you think you can, you will.
You just... Hopefully soon.
You just... A matter of time, yeah.
Captions by Red Bee Media
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