Minjee Lee in the hunt for Women’s Open and a Scottish family double

A corner of East Lothian may forever belong to a family from Western Australia. Should Minjee Lee prevail at the Women’s Open – and a second round of 70 leaves her in fine position to do precisely that – she will have shown the local speciality already displayed by her brother.

Min Woo Lee’s win at the Scottish Open last July was the biggest of his career. It is hardly unfair to suggest the 24-year-old has been firmly upstaged in sporting context by his older sister. The quirk here is that Minjee Lee is in hot pursuit of a third major – and second of 2022 – at Muirfield, literally over the wall from the Renaissance Club where Min Woo Lee emerged from a playoff.

Minjee Lee offered only that a family double in the same postcode and more than 9,000 miles from home would be “pretty cool” before a ball was struck in the Women’s Open. A four under par total at the halfway point has only intensified strong attention around her, including in her native country.

Lee eased to victory the US Open in June and would almost certainly become Australia’s first female world No 1 with a win at Muirfield. At the halfway mark she is four shots off the leader, South Korea’s Chun In-gee, and shielding herself expertly from the noise.

“I try not to think too much about that other stuff,” Lee said. “I’m still the same person. I hit a little white golf ball around a field. That’s always been my mindset and whatever comes with it, I’m going to embrace it and be the best person that I can be.” And the best golfer, clearly. Lee’s second round included two birdies and one bogey. She rued missed chances on the greens. “I played really smart out there,” she added. “I couldn’t quite capitalise on my birdie opportunities so hopefully they will all drop