After Minjee Lee‘s major championship win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, a lighthearted moment emerged involving Collin Morikawa and Adam Scott during their private jet trip. Morikawa, traveling with Scott on the $39 million jet, playfully suggested that Lee should cover the expenses for their next flight, referencing her recent victory and substantial prize money.
Minjee Lee claimed her third career major by shooting four under par throughout the four rounds of the championship, finishing as one of only three golfers to end below par despite a challenging final round where she posted a +2 score. Her victory at the weekend event earned her a record-breaking $1.8 million payout, the largest prize in LPGA Tour history.
Following her win, Min Woo Lee, Minjee’s brother and a fellow professional golfer, called her from the jet to congratulate her, accompanied by Morikawa and Scott. During the call, Min Woo relayed Morikawa’s teasing remark:
“Collin says you’re paying for the jet next time. Good job. Proud of you.”
— Min Woo Lee, Professional Golfer
The playful comment highlighted the camaraderie among the players, especially as Minjee had just secured a significant financial reward from her triumph. Min Woo Lee’s association with Adam Scott’s private jet dates back about two years when Scott first invited him for a trip to the Travelers Championship. Although he wasn’t competing in the event at that time, his strong performance in the US Open, finishing in the top five, earned him the ride.
Recalling that first experience, Min Woo described the jet’s luxury and comfort to The Loop:
“His jet is unbelievable. It’s on my vision board now. He has it decked out with a couple of Augusta National blankets and stuff. I had a nice little snooze on the couch, there´s a couch in there, there’s plenty of seats. It was very cool.”
— Min Woo Lee, Professional Golfer
Since then, Min Woo, Morikawa, and Scott have frequently traveled together on the private jet, attending multiple tournaments as a group since their initial journey in 2023. During the congratulatory FaceTime session with Minjee after her championship victory, all three golfers appeared to be aboard the jet, sharing in the celebration of her success.
Minjee Lee Reflects on Her Victory at the Women’s PGA Championship
Despite having a four-shot lead going into the final round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Minjee Lee admitted she felt nervous throughout the day, frequently monitoring the leaderboard. The pressure of maintaining her advantage in intense conditions caused her heart to race, though she tried to appear composed.
Speaking with ESPN, Lee said:
“I knew exactly where I was in terms of the scores. But I just want to be clear. Like I definitely was nervous starting the day. I wasn’t really sure if it was the heat that was making my heart beat more. … I looked calm, but not as calm as everybody thinks.”
— Minjee Lee, KPMG Women’s PGA Champion
Her strong performance in the first three rounds laid the foundation for victory, even though she bogeyed the initial three holes in the final round and finished two over par for the day. She ended the championship three strokes ahead of Auston Kim and Chanettee Wannasaen, the only other players finishing below par.
Minjee also commented on the difficulty of the course conditions that day:
“I just tried to be really simple out there. It was just so tough with the wind. Some of the drives that I hit were really terrible out there.”
— Minjee Lee, KPMG Women’s PGA Champion
Her ability to maintain composure amid challenging weather and pressure allowed her to secure the prestigious title, marking her first PGA Championship win and adding to her major achievements.
Overall, the playful connection between Minjee Lee, Collin Morikawa, and Adam Scott highlights the camaraderie shared among top golfers as they support and celebrate each other’s successes. The mention of the Adam Scott private jet trip illustrates the close-knit nature of the group, while Lee’s major victory underscores her rising status in women’s golf. Watching how this friendship and professional competition evolve, along with Lee’s career trajectory after her historic win, will be an intriguing aspect for fans and the golf community going forward.