Minjee Lee, the No. 1 ranked female amateur golfer in the world, has signed with IMG. The 18 year old will make her professional debut via sponsor exemption at this week’s Evian Championship.
Minjee Lee, the No. 1 ranked female amateur golfer in the world, has signed with IMG for worldwide management and marketing representation.
Lee, 18, completed a successful amateur career at last week’s Women’s World Amateur Team Championship, where she shot 64-65 in the final two rounds to lead Team Australia to victory. She will make her professional debut via sponsor exemption at this week’s Evian Championship, the final major championship of the 2014 LPGA Tour season.
“As my professional career begins, I am very happy to have the support of my team at IMG,” said Lee. “It is a thrill for me to begin this stage of my career at the Evian and I look forward to the journey ahead with the guidance of IMG.”
Lee was recently awarded the 2014 Mark H. McCormack Medal, presented by the R&A and the USGA, as the leading women’s amateur golfer in the world. The previous three McCormack medals were awarded to IMG client Lydia Ko.
A native of Perth, Australia, Lee has held the top spot in the amateur rankings since February when she won the Women’s Victorian Open on the Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) Tour. She also earned top-25 finishes at the Kraft Nabisco Championship – where she claimed low-am honors – and the U.S. Women’s Open this season.
Highlights of Lee’s significant amateur victories include the 2012 U.S. Girls Junior and consecutive wins at the 2013 and 2014 Australian Women’s Amateur. She was also the only amateur participant in the LPGA Tour’s inaugural International Crown, representing team Australia.
Photograph: Getty Images