URGENT UPDATE: Australian golf stars have completed a stunning comeback to secure their place in the finals of the unofficial women’s team World Cup, the International Crown, held at New Korea Country Club in Seoul, South Korea. The team, led by superstar world No.3 Minjee Lee, triumphed in a nail-biting semi-final match against Team World on July 16, 2023.
Lee showcased her resilience by defeating dual major champion Brooke Henderson with a remarkable 1-up victory after being three down with just six holes remaining. This victory marked Lee’s fourth consecutive comeback win in four days. Earlier, Charley Hull had put Team World ahead by beating Hannah Green 2 & 1 in the first singles match.
In a thrilling finish, Lee’s teammate Steph Kyriacou partnered with Grace Kim to secure a dramatic second-hole play-off win against New Zealand’s Hall of Famer Lydia Ko and Taiwan’s Wei-Lin Hsu. Despite trailing throughout the match, Kim clinched victory by sinking a crucial 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole, forcing extra holes.
As the match reached its climax, Ko’s errant tee shot at the 20th hole sealed the fate for Team World, allowing Kim to advance with a simple two-putt par. The Australian team, runner-up to Thailand in the previous edition in 2023, appeared to be in trouble when all four players faced multi-hole deficits on the back nine.
Now, Australia prepares to face the top-seeded USA in the championship match, where they will strive to prevent the Americans from becoming the first repeat champions of the prestigious event. Team USA advanced after Yealimi Noh, stepping in for the absent world No.2 Nelly Korda, delivered an outstanding performance, making 11 birdies in 16 holes to defeat reigning British Open champion Miyu Yamashita 4 & 2.
Earlier in the day, Angel Yin also contributed to the USA’s victory by defeating Rio Takeda 2 & 1. The Japanese team managed to claim a consolation point with a 1-up win in the foursomes from Mayo Saigo and Ayaka Furue against the previously unbeaten duo of Lilia Vu and Lauren Coughlin.
With the stage set for a thrilling final showdown, fans eagerly await to see if the Australian team can harness their recent momentum and bring home the title. The match is scheduled for later today, promising high stakes and intense competition.
Stay tuned for all the latest updates as the final unfolds!
