An unusually out-of-sorts Minjee Lee plans on ramping up her game just in time for golf's hunting season.
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Lee has missed the cut in her past two events, and three of the past four, and relinquished the Australian top ranking for only the second time in a decade to in-form Hannah Green.
But the two-time major winner returns to a happy hunting ground this week in New Jersey for the prestigious Cognizant Founders Cup.
Lee won the event in 2022 before falling short of defending her title last year in a playoff with former world No.1 Jin Young Ko.
The 27-year-old knows there are few better places than Upper Montclair Country Club Clifton to rediscover form ahead of four women's majors and the Paris Olympics in the next action-packed three months.
"I really love the test of this golf course," Lee said on Wednesday.
"The rough is always a little bit thicker here and it's quite tight off the tee, so I just like the character of the golf course. It's just a little bit different.
"We don't really get to play a lot of these designs, so it's just nice to come back and play a golf course like this."
Eight of the world's top 10, plus every winner on the LPGA Tour in 2024, led by world No.1 Nelly Korda shooting for a historic sixth straight win, are in the field.
So too is Green, who, with two victories already this season, is the only other multiple champion in 2024.
But the game's elite are bracing for some challenging weekend conditions as a storm cell closes in.
"Over the years we've had so many times we've had a little bit of different weather come through, so it's just about being adaptable and just being able to change, get used to it when it comes," Lee said ahead of Thursday's opening round.
"So if the forecast is like that, you just expect it and change your game plan the day of. It is what it is.
"You can't really control the weather. It's going to be the same for everyone - just one foot in front of the other really."
After missing the cut at last month's Chevron Championship, Lee hopes to build some form and confidence before the Women's US Open, the year's second major, from May 30 to June 2.
"Four more left in such a short chunk of time," said the world No.9.
"They're going to be my big focus; obviously the Olympics as well. That's always a really big thing for me as well.
"So, yeah, a lot of great events coming up."
Compatriots Grace Kim, Steph Kyriacou, Gabriela Ruffels, Karis Davidson and Sarah Kemp round out the Australian contingent in New Jersey.
Australian Associated Press
