Minjee Lee withdraws before second round as LA Championship turns toward the final stretch

minjee lee withdrew from the LA Championship before the second round, turning a routine leaderboard update into the week’s defining shift. She had opened with a three-under-par 69 at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, California, but did not take part in the next round and no reason was provided by the LPGA Tour. In a tournament that was still taking shape, the absence immediately changed the conversation around one of Australia’s most recognizable players.

What Happens When a Contender Steps Back?

At the moment of withdrawal, minjee lee was tied for 40th after a first round that included six birdies and three bogeys, among them a bogey at the 18th hole. That scorecard placed her within the field, but not yet in serious contention. Her exit before the second round removed a player with proven major pedigree from an event that was already building toward its close.

The tournament itself still had a clear leader in Chizzy Iwai, who entered the second day with a two-shot advantage after an opening 63. She had surged through the first seven holes in seven under, capped by an eagle on the par-five 16th, before finishing the day at nine under. With the field now adjusting to Lee’s withdrawal, the attention moved even more sharply toward the top of the board.

What Does the Current Form Tell Us?

The wider picture around minjee lee remains mixed but competitive. She arrived in Los Angeles after a 2026 season that began with top-five finishes at the HSBC Women’s World Championship and the Founders Cup, followed by a missed cut at the Aramco Championship earlier this month. That combination suggests a player who has still been producing strong results, even if the season has not been perfectly smooth.

Her record also explains why this withdrawal drew attention. Lee has won 11 tournaments on the LPGA Tour, including three majors, with her most recent major title coming at the Women’s PGA Championship last year in Frisco, Texas. A player with that level of achievement naturally changes the shape of a leaderboard, even when starting outside the top positions.

What Happens Next for the Field and for Minjee Lee?

The LA Championship at El Caballero is the final event before next week’s Chevron Championship in Houston, so timing matters. For the field, Lee’s withdrawal slightly eases one layer of competition in the short term, especially for players trying to sharpen form ahead of a major. For Lee, the immediate question is not ranking movement but recovery, readiness, and whether she can be back in time to regain rhythm before the next test.

• Best case: The withdrawal is precautionary, Lee resets quickly, and she returns in Houston with little disruption.
• Most likely: The field moves on in Los Angeles, while Lee’s next meaningful checkpoint becomes the Chevron Championship.
• Most challenging: The lack of explanation lingers, making it harder to gauge her immediate form heading into a major week.

Australian interest in the event did not end with Lee’s exit. Hannah Green remained the best-placed Australian, tied for 14th after a five-under-par round, while Karis Davidson and Robyn Choi sat one shot back in a tie for 26th. That gives the week a broader national storyline even as minjee lee drops out of contention.

What readers should understand is simple: in a sport where timing matters, a mid-tournament withdrawal can alter both the competitive picture and the narrative around an elite player. The facts remain limited, and that is itself important. No reason was given, so any reading beyond the withdrawal would be premature. What can be said is that minjee lee leaves Los Angeles with a solid opening round behind her, a strong recent track record in the season, and an important week ahead still waiting in Houston.