Minjee Lee runs hot at Women's World Championship

The well-rested Western Australian scorched around the Sentosa Golf Club with an eight-under-par 64 to continue her strong form from 2025.

Lee claimed her third career major last year at the PGA Championship in Texas and is intent on joining golf's all-time greats with a full set of the sport's most prestigious trophies.

Contesting her first event of the year, Lee opened with an even-par 72 on Thursday.

But out in the first group of the day on Friday morning, the world No.4 looked on a mission from the get-go.

Lee ignited her round with an eagle two on the second after holing out with a blind wedge shot, then picked up birdies on the fourth, sixth and eighth holes to hit the turn at five-under.

Another birdie on No.10 gave Lee a share of the lead for the first time, before she picked up two more shots coming in, icing her brilliant bogey-free round with a 15-foot downhill sliding putt at the last to seize the clubhouse lead.

American Auston Kim later posted a nine-under 63 to grab the solo halfway lead, one stroke ahead of Lee, South Korean Haeran Ryu and Thai Ariya Jutanugarn.

The understated Lee felt she didn't do much different than in her opening round.

"I just holed a few more putts out there," she said.

"Holed a few long ones and I also holed out for eagle on the second, so that always helps the scorecard.

"I couldn't see it go in, but just heard the crowd. It was a nice number and it was a nice shot and it went in, so it was nice."

Lee says she feels revitalised after not playing a tournament since the LPGA's Tour Championship in Florida last November.

"I haven't done too much differently, but had a whole bunch of time off this year," said the Aussie No.1.

"It's probably my longest time I've had away from golf and also the off-season training.

"I also put in the new quantum driver, so that's in the bag this week but, yeah, haven't done too much differently.

"I mean, this is my 12th year on tour now."

Lee's Perth stablemate and fellow major winner Hannah Green is also firmly in the mix, tied for fifth after surging to seven under with a stylish second-round 66. 

Green rattled in seven birdies to more than offset her lone bogey at the par-5 fifth hole.