Alison Lee: The Resilient Swing of a Rising Star
In the sun-drenched fairways of professional golf, where precision meets perseverance, few stories resonate as profoundly as that of Alison Lee. Born in Los Angeles to Korean immigrant parents on February 26, 1995, Lee has carved a path from junior phenom to LPGA Tour contender, all while embracing the joys and challenges of motherhood. At 30 years old, the 5-foot-9 Californian stands tall not just in stature but in spirit, blending fierce competitiveness with a grounded perspective shaped by family, fantasy novels, and an unyielding love for the game.
From LA Links to Amateur Glory
Lee’s golf odyssey began at age six, under the watchful eye of her father, Johnny, who doubled as her first coach. Growing up in Southern California, she quickly outpaced her peers, earning AJGA First-Team All-American honors for six consecutive years from 2008 to 2013. Her junior resume boasts nine AJGA victories, including standout wins at the 2010 Winn Grips Heather Farr Classic and the 2012 Annika Invitational.
International acclaim followed swiftly. Lee was a cornerstone of the victorious U.S. Junior Solheim Cup teams in 2009, 2011, and 2013, helping secure three straight triumphs. She also represented her country in the Junior Ryder Cup (2010, 2012) and the Curtis Cup (2014). By 2013-14, her dominance peaked: She held the No. 1 spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for 16 weeks, a testament to her blend of power and finesse.
College beckoned at UCLA, where Lee played just one-and-a-half seasons before turning pro. In that brief stint, she dazzled, winning the 2014 Pac-12 Championship and earning Freshman of the Year honors. She also claimed the inaugural ANNIKA Award as the nation’s top collegiate female golfer for the 2013-14 season. Yet, with the world at her feet, Lee made the bold choice to leave Westwood early, forgoing her degree—though she remains enrolled as a student to this day.
Turning Pro: Rookie Fire and European Triumphs
December 2014 marked Lee’s professional debut. She stormed through the LPGA Qualifying Tournament, winning the final stage to secure her Tour card as a teenager. Her 2015 rookie season was nothing short of electric: Six top-10 finishes, including a T6 at the Evian Championship, propelled her to a career-high world ranking of 20th by late 2023. That year, she earned a spot on the U.S. Solheim Cup team—the youngest American qualifier at 20—despite a 1-3-0 record in four matches.
The LPGA Tour has been a proving ground, with 192 starts through 2024 yielding 25 top-10s, four runner-ups, and over $4.3 million in earnings. Close calls have defined her journey: a playoff loss to Carlota Ciganda at the 2016 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship and another to Minjee Lee at the 2023 BMW Ladies Championship. Majors have seen flashes of brilliance—a T8 at the 2022 Chevron Championship and T11 at the 2023 Women’s British Open among her highlights—but no victories yet.
Where the LPGA has teased, the Ladies European Tour (LET) has delivered. In 2021, Lee captured the Aramco Team Series – Sotogrande individual title, firing a 15-under 201 to win by five strokes over Ashleigh Buhai. She doubled down in 2023 with a dominant 29-under 187 victory at the Aramco Team Series – Riyadh, edging Carlota Ciganda by eight. These triumphs, her only professional wins to date, underscore her adaptability and poise under pressure.
The Solheim Cup remains a bittersweet arena. In 2024, Lee went 1-2-0 in three matches, contributing to the U.S. team’s narrow defeat. Her career Cup record stands at 2-5-0 across seven matches, earning 2 points with a 28.6% win rate.
Motherhood, Mentorship, and a Mindful Return
Life off the course has added profound layers to Lee’s narrative. In March 2025, she announced her pregnancy with husband Trey, a former college golfer, sparking excitement among fans who noted her early-season absence. Son Levi arrived later that year, ushering in a new chapter. By May 2025, Lee shared glimpses of “loving life as a new mom,” balancing bottles and birdies. Motherhood on Tour is no small feat—think Nelly Korda or Lexi Thompson navigating similar paths—but Lee has leaned into it with grace.
Her return to competition came in September 2025 on the LET, a deliberate step to rebuild rhythm post-maternity. “It’s about easing back in,” she said in a pre-tournament presser ahead of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship later that month. Off the tee, she’s turned to an unlikely ally: fantasy books. As detailed in a November 2025 New York Times profile, Lee credits immersing herself in epic tales with quieting the mental noise of elite competition. “It’s my escape,” she revealed, a reminder that even pros need a plot twist now and then.
The Road Ahead: Chasing That Elusive First LPGA Win
As 2025 winds down, Lee sits 35th in the world rankings, her form hinting at bigger things. With 13 cuts made in 19 starts last year and four top-10s, including a T3, she’s knocking on the door of her maiden LPGA victory—fans on X buzz about her potential, from Solheim Cup redemption to central contention.
Alison Lee’s story isn’t one of unchecked dominance but of dogged determination—a Korean-American trailblazer who turned pro young, won abroad, and now mothers through the majors. In a sport that rewards patience, her swing remains as smooth as ever, poised for the breakthrough that feels tantalizingly close. Watch this space: The next chapter might just be her best.