A long-range birdie from the fringe was the ideal way to sign off on an even-par round of 72 in Round 3 as Lee continues to lead the way for the Aussies at Carlton Woods.

At 4-under par, the 28-year-old will begin the final round five strokes off the lead and in a tie for 15th.

The largest final-round comeback in LPGA major championship history is seven strokes, achieved by Patty Sheehan (1983 LPGA Championship), Karrie Webb (2006 Chevron Championship) and… Minjee Lee at the 2021 Amundi Evian Championship.

PLUS...

Birdie blitz thrusts Lee into Chevron Championship mix

Aussie golf star Minjee Lee is just three strokes off the pace at the halfway mark of the Chevron Championship, women's golf's first major of the year in Texas.

Co-leaders Haeran Ryu (68) and Mai Saigo (69) were the only players to break 70 on a moving day in which most players stalled, Gabriela Ruffels climbing 33 spots into a tie for 31st with a round of 2-under 70.

Starting from the 10th tee, Ruffels compiled one of the few bogey-free rounds of Round 3, birdies at 14 and eight along with 16 pars delivering a significant jump up the leaderboard.

Stephanie Kyriacou birdied three of her final five holes in a round of 1-over 73, Cassie Porter had four bogeys and three birdies to also shoot 73 while Grace Kim’s quadruple-bogey at the par-3 third did the majority of the damage in her round of 5-over 77.

Tied for 10th through 36 holes, Lee hit just over half of the greens in regulation on Saturday, a double-bogey at the par-4 fifth and bogey at the par-5 eighth resulting in an outward nine of 2-over 38.

Birdies at the pair of par 5s on the back nine ensured Lee got back to even par by day’s end and close enough to push for a third major title.

 
Round 3 scores
T1        Mao Saigo                   -9
T1        Haeran Ryu                 -9
T15      Minjee Lee                   -4
T31      Gabriela Ruffels            E
T45      Stephanie Kyriacou     +2
T45      Cassie Porter              +2
T58      Lydia Ko (NZ)               +4
T64     Grace Kim                    +5
MC      Hannah Green             +6
MC      Hira Naveed                 +8
 
The Chevron Championship
The Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands, Texas
2024 champion: Nelly Korda
Past Aussie winners: Karrie Webb (2000, 2006)
Prize money: $US8m
TV times: Live 4am-8am Monday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.

Australasians in the field
Hannah Green
Career LPGA wins: 6
Major wins: 1
Previous appearances: 7
Best finish: T8 in 2022
2024 result: MC
 
Grace Kim
Career LPGA wins: 1
Major wins: 0
Previous appearances: 2
Best finish: MC
2024 result: MC
 
Stephanie Kyriacou
Career LPGA wins: 0
Major wins: 0
Previous appearances: 2
Best finish: T40 in 2024
2024 result: T40
 
Lydia Ko (NZ)
Career LPGA wins: 23
Major wins: 3
Previous appearances: 12
Best finish: Won in 2016
2024 result: T17
 
Minjee Lee
Career LPGA wins: 10
Major wins: 2
Previous appearances: 11
Best finish: T3 in 2017
2024 result: MC
 
Hira Naveed
Career LPGA wins: 0
Major wins: 0
Previous appearances: 1
Best finish: MC
2024 result: MC
 
Cassie Porter
Career LPGA wins: 0
Major wins: 0
Previous appearances: 0
Best finish: First start
2024 result: DNP
 
Gabriela Ruffels
Career LPGA wins: 0
Major wins: 0
Previous appearances: 4
Best finish: T15 in 2020
2024 result: T40