New pro Lee shows no Evian nerves

Minjee Lee is holding off the butterflies ahead of the Evian Championship in France but the Australian reckons they might flutter when she tees off in her debut as a pro golfer.

The 18-year-old, who was the world’s No.1 amateur golfer when she turned professional this week, will play for prize money for the first time in the $3.25 million women’s major tournament.

“I’m not nervous, just excited at the moment,” Lee said.

“I might be a little nervous on the first tee shot on Thursday, but we will see.”

The youngster will join veteran Karrie Webb and fellow Australians Nikki Campbell, Katherine Kirk, Lindsey Wright, Sarah Jane Smith and Sarah Kemp on the French fairways at Evian Resort Golf Club.

The field of 120 for the fifth and final major for the year includes 19 of the world’s top 20 players.

Perth native Lee, who led the Australian national squad to the Esperito Santo Trophy, was offered a sponsor invite to the Evian Championship.

She will be grouped with other rising stars in England’s Charley Hull and China’s Xi Yu Lin for the opening two rounds.

Seven-time major winner Webb, who won the tournament in 2006 when it was called the Evian Masters, is keen to get back out on the picturesque course.

“I look forward to this event every year, it is one of my favourite tournaments,” she said.

“The views from the golf course are spectacular.”

Campbell, a 10-year pro now based in Europe, is playing Evian for the first time.

The Canberra golfer has qualified in previous years when she was based in Japan, but decided it was too far to travel for one event.

“Everyone talks about how beautiful Evian is and now I know what they are talking about,” she said during a training hit.

“The golf course is great – it’s tough, it’s long.”

Australians have done well at Evian in recent times, with Rachel Hetherington winning in 2001, Wendy Doolan in 2004, and Webb in 2006.

Norway’s Suzann Pettersen took out the 2013 championship in its first year as a major tournament, holding off New Zealand’s Lydia Ko.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!