Lee embraces Aussie Open golf pressure

Minjee Lee says she won't be burdened by being Australia's top-ranked golfer at this week's women's Australian Open in Adelaide.

Minjee Lee of Australia

Minjee Lee says she won't be burdened by being Australia's top-ranked golfer at the Australian Open. (AAP)

Perth's Minjee Lee says she's embracing expectations of being the nation's top-ranked golfer in this week's Australian Open.

Lee, 19, says the expectations mirror her own internal pressures ahead of the open starting at Adelaide's The Grange course on Thursday.

"I have high expectations anyway for myself," she told reporters on Tuesday.

"The expectation is always going to be there, playing at home.

"Every tournament ... I always want to be in contention.

"I have got high expectations on myself to play well, especially at home, because I know these conditions pretty well."

Lee enters the tournament ranked 18th in the world after a successful season last year, which featured a tied seventh-place in the Australian Open.

"Last year I think I was a little nervous because it was my first national championship as a professional," Lee said.

"This year - I have had a lot of experience last year playing on the tour in front of crowds and stuff so I think I'm a little more relaxed.

"I'm still going to be nervous on the first tee but just not as nervous overall."

Lee won an Australian amateur title at The Grange a couple of years ago, though that event was primarily played on the east course - this week's open will be contested on the west course.

"It's going to be tough," Lee said of the layout.

"You're going to have to be really accurate. It looks wide but the fraction of the fairway that you want to hit it to is really small."

Lee has set a goal of climbing into the top 10 on the rankings this year, and also competing for Australia at the Olympics.

A maximum of two spots per nation are available for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August with Lee and veteran Karrie Webb, currently ranked 34th, in the slots currently.

"It's a big goal of mine to get to the Olympics this year and obviously I want to get my ranking better every tournament," Lee said.


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Source: AAP



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