More silverware remains top of Alison Lee’s agenda as the Solheim Cup star returns to Saudi Arabia 12 months on from breaking several Ladies European Tour (LET) records at the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Riyadh.
The American entered the history books last time out as she fired back-to-back rounds of 61 (-11) at Riyadh Golf Club to twice equal the lowest 18-hole score on the LET. During round one, Lee also equalled the Tour’s consecutive birdie count with eight red numbers in a row.
A third round 65 (-7) would see Lee cruise to an eight shot victory as she broke the circuit’s 36 and 54-hole scoring records while becoming only the second player to win on the LET without dropping a single shot.
“I played incredible golf,” the 29-year-old remembers. “I don’t even know how to explain it. I don’t know how I did it. It was just one of those weeks where golf came really easy. I was hitting really good shots and was hitting loads of good putts. There’s not much else I can say. We have good weeks and we have bad weeks. This week last year was one of those good weeks.”
Since that historic week Lee has earned three top-five finishes on the LPGA and qualified for the Solheim Cup where she played a key role in Stacy Lewis’s winning arsenal.
Back on the LET this week for a sixth time in 2024, her best result being a tied third finish at Aramco Team Series – London in July, the focus is all about winning for Lee as she battles a star-studded field.
“Hopefully I can do it again,” she said. “It’s going to be tough and the course is playing a little differently. I’ve noticed some of the tee blocks have been pushed back a little bit. I’m looking forward to the week.
“It would mean a lot to defend my title. I’ve never been able to win anything back-to-back so to be able to get that opportunity, I’m really excited.”
Lee currently sits 34th in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and has two professional victories on her resume – both of which coming at the Aramco Team Series in Riyadh (2023) and Sotogrande (2021) respectively.
“Winning motivates me,” she said. “I’ve been on Tour 10 years now and I’ve only managed to do it a couple times on the LET. It’s always been my goal to try and win on the LPGA Tour so that’s why I wake up every day and practice so hard. It’s a really big goal of mine.”
One of 28 captains in Riyadh this week, Lee will tee up in both the Individual and Team events which run concurrently over the first two days. The American selected Switzerland’s Kim Metraux as her pick with Wales’ Lydia the team’s third professional.
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