Lee's winnings came from a record $10 million purse.
"We're only moving in the right direction," Lee said. "I think it's only going to get better and better from here. It's such a large sum, and I'm really honored to be the first winner I guess of this sum. We're only going to get better and better."
Growing up, Lee said she dreamt of hitting a putt to win the U.S. Open, even practiced it. On Sunday, she didn't have to worry about her putts on 18. As Lee got to her second shot on the 18th fairway, someone near the green accidentally popped a champagne bottle. It was premature, but it felt fitting given that Lee's victory never truly felt in doubt all throughout Sunday. She three-putted for bogey on the final hole, but it didn't matter.
"That was the nervous-est I've ever been," Lee said with a laugh about the putt after the round, the trophy by her side. "Even with a three-shot lead, I never felt comfortable today."
On the second hole, she made a long birdie putt, and fans near the green, whose view was obstructed by a mound, couldn't tell she made it until she walked up and pulled it from the pin.
"To start aggressively, I think it was the right move, and then after that I had quite a big shot lead, so I was able to just play my game just to finish," Lee said.
Distance and ball-striking set Lee up for success at Pine Needles. Throughout both Saturday and Sunday, Lee was ahead of Harigae by 30, 40, even 50 yards or more. Lee said the extra time she's been "going hard" in the gym lately has helped her slowly increase her swing speed, which has resulted in longer drives.
While she wasn't the most accurate in the field off the tee Sunday, Lee's consistent length allowed her to gain strokes with her approach shots. She ranked in the top 5 in greens in regulation on the tournament and was top 10 in strokes gained on approach, around the green and putting.
"I didn't hit it that well," Lee said. "I had really good saves, up and downs from a lot of places."
The 26-year-old Lee won her first major last July at the Evian Championship in France by erasing a seven-stroke deficit and beating South Korean Jeongeun Lee in the first hole of a sudden-death playoff. Lee also has two third-place finishes at majors in her career -- at the British Open in 2020 and at the ANA Inspiration in 2017. Her best U.S. Open finish before this tournament was tying for 11th in 2017.
Lee became the sixth straight international player to win the U.S. Women's Open and the first from Australia since mentor Karrie Webb in 2001.
Lee, who entered the week ranked No. 4 in the world, has won eight LPGA Tour events and became the first repeat winner this year following her victory at the Founders Cup three weeks ago in New Jersey.
Later this month at the Women's PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club in Washington D.C., Lee will try to become the first player to win back-to-back majors since Inbee Park won the first three majors of 2013.
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