
USA Today via Reuters
May 31, 2024; Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA; Minjee Lee (AUS) on the 18th green during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

USA Today via Reuters
May 31, 2024; Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA; Minjee Lee (AUS) on the 18th green during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Something doesn’t add up in today’s golf world. Two major championships, 10 LPGA wins, over $15.6 million in earnings, and a peak ranking of World No. 2. Yet this Australian star has fewer Instagram followers than golfers who’ve never won a major. She’s rewriting what success looks like with just 167,900 followers, while her results speak volumes. This golfer chose golf’s most traditional route to greatness. She built her legacy through pure performance rather than viral content. Furthermore, her approach contrasts sharply with today’s social media-driven golf culture.
Minjee Lee’s Quiet Championship Mentality
Minjee Lee takes a refreshingly different path in modern professional golf. She lets her clubs do the talking rather than chasing online engagement. Furthermore, she rarely posts on social media or participates in digital drama. Instead, she focuses purely on performance and consistency.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Her 2025 season demonstrates this philosophy perfectly. Despite earning $810,124 across 11 starts with three top-10 finishes, she remains largely invisible online. Moreover, she currently ranks 17th in the world while maintaining her trademark composure. Additionally, her putting statistics rank 11th on the Tour list, proving her quiet work pays dividends.
AD

USA Today via Reuters
Jun 1, 2024; Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA; Minjee Lee (AUS) reacts on the fourteenth green during the third round of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
The Australians’ approach reflects old-school professionalism at its finest. She doesn’t chase viral moments or trending hashtags. Instead, she demonstrates what industry insiders call a “killer” habit that intimidates opponents. Her game remains consistent, clinical, and quietly brilliant. She doesn’t chase sponsors—they chase her. Consequently, major brands like Malbon Golf seek her out based purely on performance achievements.
This intensity shows during tough rounds. She spends hours practicing putting greens in complete silence. Rather than posting about struggles, she works through them privately. Competitors recognize her quiet intensity immediately, knowing they’re facing someone who doesn’t need crowds or cameras to excel.
Yet Minjee’s approach becomes even more remarkable when viewed within the broader context of modern golf’s digital landscape.
What’s your perspective on:
Does Minjee Lee's quiet dominance challenge the social media obsession in modern sports?
Have an interesting take?
Minjee Lee’s Social Media Paradox in Modern Golf
This traditional approach becomes even more striking when compared to her family’s contrasting strategy. Meanwhile, her younger brother Min Woo Lee commands 553,000 Instagram followers through a completely different philosophy. He built his brand through walk-and-talks, expressive social posts, and drippy fashion choices that made him marketable even before his game reached its peak.
Min Woo transformed from an unknown golfer to a social media sensation through strategic content creation. His Call of Duty-inspired “Let him cook” catchphrase spawned merchandise and coordinated fan displays at tournaments. Furthermore, Justin Bieber congratulated him personally after his Houston Open victory, instantly reaching 294 million Instagram followers through the pop star’s massive platform.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The contrast becomes stark when comparing siblings. Min Woo admits their differences openly: “We’re complete opposites. I’ve got social media, she doesn’t. I post like 10 times a month, she posts like 10 times a year.” This gap perfectly illustrates two distinctly different approaches to building a modern golf career.
Today’s golf landscape rewards vastly different types of success. Paige Spiranac commands over 4 million Instagram followers despite never winning an LPGA event. Meanwhile, Nelly Korda balances elite performance with 1.1 million followers as the current World No. 1. These examples highlight the fundamental dilemma in modern golf between chasing digital engagement and pursuing actual trophies.
You can build a career two ways: with flash or with results. Nevertheless, Minjee continues proving that the game still respects substance. Her request to help shape the LPGA’s future demonstrates leadership that transcends social metrics entirely. In a world where style often wins the algorithm, she’s building something that outlasts trends—legacy.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Ultimately, Minjee’s quiet dominance challenges golf’s social media obsession directly. She accumulates victories and respect from peers who understand greatness doesn’t require constant self-promotion. While others chase followers and likes, she focuses on major championships and lasting impact.
She may never go viral or trend on social platforms. However, her trophy case tells a story that follower counts simply cannot match. No gimmicks. No filters. Just golf, the way it should be.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
"Does Minjee Lee's quiet dominance challenge the social media obsession in modern sports?"