Minjee Lee puts faith in Scottish rookie teammate

World No.4 Minjee Lee opened this week’s Aramco Team Series event in Riyadh with a nine-under-par 63, but Scottish rookie Louise Duncan was on her mind after her first day.

The Aussie star, who has two major championships to her name, selected 23-year-old Scot Louise Duncan for her team this week, and explained that she was familiar with her game before this week’s lucrative event.

“I’ve seen Louise around, she’s played the Scottish and the British a couple of times, I just saw her from afar. I just met her for the first time today in person. She’s a great girl, she’s really nice and we chatted all throughout the round,” Lee explained.

But, despite her team captain sailing through the day with a 63, Duncan toiled to a round of level par, on a day where conditions made Riyadh Golf Club virtually defenceless.

After 18 holes, Team Lee sit one shot off the lead with a 19-under-par total.

Lee praised the Scot, whose contributions could be important if Lee’s team have aspirations to win this week’s team event.

“I think since it’s her rookie season, she’s just finding her feet and getting to know the courses and stuff like that. After she settles in a bit, she’s going to be a great golfer.

“The first year, for her, it’s all going to be new experiences. You might have not played with a crowd as much. The tour’s schedule is actually really hard.

“Making the adjustment of coming off an amateur schedule, there are so many more events you have to play in, especially as a rookie.

“There’s a lot more pressure, you’re thinking about trying to keep your card, all those things are external pressures, you’re going to countries that you’ve never been before, you don’t know what kind of food there’s going to be.

63 (-9) for @minjeegolf 👏#RaiseOurGame | #SeeTheImpact pic.twitter.com/2Bdk3X4OHD

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) October 27, 2023

“It’s just small things that kind of play a part in how your condition is and how you perform on the golf course. It’s just a learning curve.”

Duncan made this week’s event after receiving an invite last Wednesday, less than two weeks before the first round. Then, it was a rush to get a visa for Saudi Arabia, where she flew to from India.

The former University of Stirling golfer will need to crack the top-70 on the LET’s Race to the Costa del Sol to avoid a trip to the circuit’s Q School. Before this week, she was sitting 91st in the season-long rankings.

Meanwhile, fellow Scot Kylie Henry shot an impressive first round of 65, which could prove important, as she sits just one spot above Duncan in the season long rankings.

After the first day in Riyadh, Alison Lee leads the way after a bogey free round of 61 at the Saudi venue.

Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor