Alison Lee Bio
Alison Lee (born February 26, 1995) is an American professional golfer who competes on the LPGA Tour and on the Ladies European Tour. A former standout at the University of California, Los Angeles, she rose to the top of amateur golf before turning professional in December 2014. Lee is best known for holding the number one spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for 16 weeks during 2013 and 2014, and for earning a place on the United States Solheim Cup team in her rookie season on tour.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Lee developed her game on Southern California courses and went on to become one of the most decorated amateur players in the country. She has since built a steady professional career, collecting two tour victories and competing in major championships and team events for the United States.
Early Life and Background
Alison Lee was born on February 26, 1995, in Los Angeles, California, to Korean immigrant parents. She grew up in the Los Angeles area and was introduced to golf at a young age by her family. Her father, Johnny Lee, served as her first instructor and helped lay the groundwork for her technical development and competitive foundation.
Lee attended school in Los Angeles while pursuing junior golf, balancing academics with a heavy tournament schedule on the American Junior Golf Association circuit. Her early training in Southern California, combined with the guidance of her father, helped her transition smoothly into national-level junior competition by her early teens.
Path to Golf
Lee emerged as one of the most consistent junior players in the United States, earning AJGA First-Team All-American honors every year from 2008 through 2013. During that span she recorded nine wins on the AJGA circuit, establishing herself as a top amateur prospect and gaining valuable experience in high-level match-play and stroke-play competition.
Her junior résumé also included three consecutive appearances on the victorious USA Junior Solheim Cup team in 2009, 2011, and 2013, along with spots on the Junior Ryder Cup teams in 2010 and 2012. In 2014, she played for the United States at the Curtis Cup, cementing her status as one of the leading amateurs in the game. She enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she played one and a half seasons of college golf before turning professional in December 2014. At the time of her professional debut, she remained a student at UCLA.
Alison Lee Career
Early Career (2008–2014)
Before turning professional, Alison Lee was a fixture on the AJGA circuit, where her six straight First-Team All-American selections reflected her consistency and competitive maturity. Her nine AJGA wins included strong performances against top junior fields, and her team-play experience at the Junior Solheim Cup helped prepare her for the pressure of match-play formats.
Her college career at UCLA was brief but impactful, and she entered the professional ranks after winning the final stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament. By the end of her amateur career, she had reached the top of the World Amateur Golf Ranking, a position she held for 16 weeks across the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2015–2018)
Alison Lee joined the LPGA Tour in 2015 and quickly announced herself as a player to watch. In her rookie season, she qualified for the United States Solheim Cup team on the basis of her world ranking, marking one of the fastest ascents from qualifying school to a major team competition in recent tour history.
Her early LPGA years were defined by steady play in major championships and a willingness to test herself against the strongest fields in women's golf. A notable major-championship result during this period was a T6 finish at the Evian Championship in 2015, confirming that her amateur form could translate to the biggest stages of the professional game.
Ladies European Tour Era (2019–Present)
Alongside her LPGA play, Alison Lee has competed on the Ladies European Tour, where she has recorded two professional wins. Her LET victories expanded her competitive footprint internationally and offered her additional opportunities to compete for titles outside the United States.
She has continued to balance schedules between the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour, using both circuits to refine her game and contend in a variety of course conditions. Her major-championship results during this stretch included a T8 at the Chevron Championship in 2022, a T11 at the Women's British Open in 2023, and a T14 at the U.S. Women's Open in 2026.
United States Team Career
Lee's team resume is one of the deepest among American players of her generation. In addition to her three USA Junior Solheim Cup appearances in 2009, 2011, and 2013, she represented the United States at the Junior Ryder Cup in 2010 and 2012 and at the Curtis Cup in 2014.
Her selection to the United States Solheim Cup team in her rookie LPGA season highlighted her value as both a stroke-play and match-play competitor. These team experiences have remained a defining part of her career and have shaped her approach to high-pressure competition.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Alison Lee's career are her 16 weeks atop the World Amateur Golf Ranking during 2013 and 2014, her rookie-season Solheim Cup selection, and her two Ladies European Tour victories. Her run of AJGA First-Team All-American honors from 2008 through 2013 also stands as a milestone of consistency at the junior level.
Alison Lee Career Wins
Alison Lee has recorded two professional victories on the Ladies European Tour. Her professional win total reflects her ability to perform across multiple tours and against varied international fields, complementing her record as one of the most accomplished amateurs in American golf.
Ladies European Tour Highlights
Lee's two Ladies European Tour wins marked her transition from elite amateur to consistent professional contender. These titles demonstrated that her ball-striking and competitive temperament, refined through years of junior and amateur match-play competition, could produce victories at the professional level.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside her LET titles, Lee accumulated nine AJGA wins during a six-year run as a First-Team All-American from 2008 through 2013. Her amateur achievements, including three USA Junior Solheim Cup team wins, two Junior Ryder Cup appearances, and a Curtis Cup selection in 2014, round out a well-documented list of competitive successes.
Alison Lee Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Alison Lee was raised in Los Angeles by Korean immigrant parents who supported her early interest in golf. Her father, Johnny Lee, was her first instructor and played a central role in introducing her to the game and shaping her early development as a competitive player.
Personal Life
Lee has spent much of her life in Southern California, including her time as a student at the University of California, Los Angeles. She remains connected to UCLA, where she continued her studies while launching her professional golf career.
2025 Season Performance
Alison Lee's 2025 campaign on the LPGA Tour reflected the steady form that has defined her professional career. She continued to compete in major championships and regular tour events, posting results consistent with a player aiming to add to her professional victory total and contend deeper into the season.
Her major-championsionhop resume in recent seasons, including a T8 at the Chevron Championship in 2022, a T11 at the Women's British Open in 2023, and a T14 at the U.S. Women's Open in 2026, underscores her comfort on the biggest stages. In 2025, she continued to pursue a first LPGA Tour victory while maintaining her commitments on the Ladies European Tour, where her two career wins were earned.
Looking ahead, Lee's combination of international experience, match-play credentials from multiple Solheim Cup and Junior Ryder Cup appearances, and a long track record of consistent play position her as a regular contender. Her ongoing affiliation with UCLA and her Los Angeles roots provide a stable foundation as she works to translate her amateur pedigree into further professional success.