Mirim Lee Bio
Mirim Lee, also known as Lee Mi-rim, is a South Korean professional golfer born on 25 October 1990. She has competed across three professional tours and built a reputation as one of the most consistent ball-strikers of her generation. Lee is best known for her victory at the 2020 ANA Inspiration, a major championship on the LPGA Tour that defined her career on the biggest stages of the women’s game.
Since turning professional in 2009, Lee has accumulated eight professional victories across the LPGA Tour, the LPGA of Korea Tour, and the Ladies Asian Golf Tour. Standing 5 feet 6 inches tall, she combines a steady temperament with precise iron play, and her career has bridged two eras of women’s professional golf in Asia and the United States.
Early Life and Background
Mirim Lee was born on 25 October 1990 and raised in South Korea, where golf is widely followed at both the amateur and professional levels. The country has produced a steady stream of players who have gone on to excel on the LPGA Tour, and Lee is part of that broader tradition of Korean women golfers reaching the highest levels of the sport.
From an early age, she developed an interest in competitive golf and committed to the developmental pathway that leads Korean juniors toward the professional ranks. While detailed records of her junior and amateur career are not widely documented, her quick transition into the professional game in 2009 suggests a strong amateur foundation that prepared her for the demands of tour-level play.
Path to Professional Golf
Lee turned professional in 2009, choosing to begin her career in her home country rather than moving immediately to the United States. She joined the LPGA of Korea Tour in 2010, one of Asia’s strongest women’s professional circuits, and used that platform to refine her game against experienced regional competition.
During her time on the Korean tour, Lee captured three titles, demonstrating that she possessed the consistency and shot-making ability required to win regularly. Her success on home soil earned her the opportunity to test herself internationally, and in 2014 she made the transition to the U.S.-based LPGA Tour, joining a growing contingent of South Korean players who compete on the premier women’s circuit in the world.
Mirim Lee Career
Early Career on the LPGA of Korea Tour (2010–2013)
Lee’s first years as a professional were spent establishing herself on the LPGA of Korea Tour. She adapted quickly to the rigors of weekly tournament play and recorded three victories during this developmental stage, a haul that signaled her readiness for a higher level of competition.
Her results in Korea gave her the confidence and the qualifying record needed to pursue a card on the LPGA Tour. By the end of 2013, she had built the foundation of a competitive career and was prepared to take the next step onto one of the most demanding tours in golf.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2014–2019)
Lee began playing on the LPGA Tour in 2014 and quickly proved that she could compete against the best players in the world. She recorded her first wins on the tour during her initial seasons, establishing herself as a contender in the United States as well as in Asia.
One of her most memorable early performances came in the first round of the 2016 Women’s British Open, where she fired a 62 to tie the low-round record in the history of the Women’s British Open. That same year she posted strong major results, finishing T4 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and T2 at the Women’s British Open. She also registered a T8 at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open and a T13 at the 2019 Evian Championship, reinforcing her consistency across all five major championships.
Major Championship Glory (2020–Present)
The defining moment of Lee’s career arrived at the 2020 ANA Inspiration, the first major of the LPGA Tour season. She won the championship by defeating Brooke Henderson and Jessica Korda in a sudden-death playoff, with Lee, Henderson, and Korda finishing regulation tied before Lee clinched the title. The victory made her a major champion and remains the highlight of her professional résumé.
She has continued to play a full schedule on the LPGA Tour in the years since, drawing on the experience of that breakthrough to remain a steady presence in the field. Across her time on tour, she has totaled four LPGA Tour victories, three LPGA of Korea Tour titles, and one Ladies Asian Golf Tour win, for eight professional wins overall.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lee is recognized for her accurate iron play and her composure under pressure, two traits that have carried her to victories in both regular tour events and major championships. Her ability to post low rounds, as evidenced by her 62 at the 2016 Women’s British Open, reflects a confident and aggressive approach when her swing is in rhythm. She has historically performed well on setups that reward ball-striking and patience.
Notable Events and Milestones
Lee’s signature milestone is her 2020 ANA Inspiration title, won in a sudden-death playoff against Henderson and Korda. She also holds a share of the Women’s British Open single-round scoring record at 62, set during the first round of the 2016 championship. Her combined tour record of eight professional wins across three different circuits underscores her longevity and adaptability.
Mirim Lee Career Wins
Across her professional career, Mirim Lee has accumulated eight wins on three different tours. Four of those victories have come on the LPGA Tour, three on the LPGA of Korea Tour, and one on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour, illustrating a career that has spanned both Asia and the United States.
LPGA Tour Highlights
Lee has won four events on the LPGA Tour since joining in 2014, including the 2020 ANA Inspiration, which she captured in a sudden-death playoff. Her first LPGA Tour win marked her arrival on the American circuit, while her major victory cemented her place among the tour’s elite players. She has also posted top finishes at the Women’s PGA Championship, the U.S. Women’s Open, the Women’s British Open, and the Evian Championship, with a playoff record of 2–1 on the LPGA Tour.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the LPGA Tour, Lee has recorded three titles on the LPGA of Korea Tour during her developmental years and one victory on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour. Together, those wins reflect her success across multiple competitive landscapes and her status as a global professional golfer.
Mirim Lee Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
There is limited public information available regarding Mirim Lee’s family background or any direct connection to a lineage in golf. She was born and raised in South Korea, a country known for producing elite golfers, but specific details about her parents and upbringing are not widely documented.
Personal Life
Public information about Mirim Lee’s personal life, including marital status and family outside of her professional career, is not broadly available. She has focused much of her public profile on her competitive results and her achievements on the golf course.
2025 Season Performance
As of the 2025 season, Mirim Lee continues to compete on the LPGA Tour, drawing on more than a decade of experience at the highest level of women’s golf. Her schedule in 2025 includes a mix of regular tour events and major championships, where she has historically been a strong contender.
Lee remains a respected veteran presence in the field, and her major championship pedigree, including her 2020 ANA Inspiration title, gives her the platform to compete for big titles each year. Her ability to post low rounds and her track record in playoffs make her a player to watch whenever the schedule brings her to a familiar venue.
Looking ahead, Lee’s 2025 campaign will be shaped by her preparation for the major championships and her pursuit of additional LPGA Tour wins. With eight professional victories already on her résumé, the next milestone in her sights is adding to that total and contending for another major.