After a quiet opening round that saw her finish at even-par, world No. 4 Minjee Lee reminded the field why she is a three-time major champion. On Friday at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, Lee turned in a masterclass performance, firing a bogey-free 8-under 64 to skyrocket into a tie for second place at the Sentosa Golf Club.

The Australian star improved on her Thursday score by a staggering eight strokes, proving that even a “rested” Lee is a dangerous one.

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The Masterclass: Eagle at the 2nd

Lee, who is making her first start of the 2026 season after an extended offseason, looked locked in from the first tee on Friday morning. The highlight of her day came early at the par-4 second hole, where she holed out for a blind eagle with a wedge.

“I couldn’t see it go in, but just heard the crowd,” Lee said following her round. “It was a nice number and it was a nice shot… it always helps the scorecard.”

Following the eagle, Lee’s momentum was unstoppable:

• Front Nine: Shot a 5-under 31, fueled by the eagle and birdies at the 4th, 6th, and 8th.
• Back Nine: Added three more birdies at the 10th, 14th, and a clutch 15-foot sliding putt on the 18th to seize the clubhouse lead.
• Accuracy: Lee’s 64 tied for the round of the day (matched only by American Angel Yin).

The Leaderboard: Chasing Auston Kim

Despite Lee’s historic surge, she remains one stroke behind the surprise leader, Auston Kim. The American followed up her opening-round 66 with a steady 69 on Friday to hold the solo lead at 9-under par.

Player	Round 1	Round 2	Total	To Par
Auston Kim (USA)	66	69	135	-9
Minjee Lee (AUS)	72	64	136	-8
Haeran Ryu (KOR)	68	68	136	-8
Ariya Jutanugarn (THA)	69	67	136	-8
Hannah Green (AUS)	71	66	137	-7

Looking Ahead: A Final Round Duel?

As of Saturday morning in Singapore, the plot has thickened even further. In the third round (Moving Day), Minjee Lee and fellow Australian Hannah Green have both climbed to 11-under par to share the lead.

The two good friends are set to battle it out in the final group on Sunday. For Lee, a win would be her 12th career LPGA title and a perfect start to a 2026 season where she aims to complete a career Grand Slam.