The tyranny from distance is something golfers know well.
While they stand on that tee and look for the flag – if they can see it at all – it is only a distance between them and their goal.
It is really a stupid simple game.
In the words of the great and fictional golfer Chubbs Peterson, the charming genuine nature of Golf is simply “sending the ball home”.
Minjee Lee knows how to overcome distance, both figuratively and literally. But the concept of home? That is a bit more complicated.
By stamping herself as one of the greatest golfers in Australia by claiming her third major at the PGA championship for women, one comment was noticeable when Lee paid a tribute to her over-performing family.
Min Woo Lee in action on the Travelers Championship, 2,300 km away from the big victory of his sister. ((Getty Images: Alex Goodlett))
“Where is minus, he supports me outside,” Lee said about little brothers and rising golf star Min Woo Lee.
That is the complicated and stacked nature of the golf calendar for men and women, these kinds of performance-so-so-epic and history make it that they should be played surrounded by family being completed instead completed where your only brother or sister is when you reach them in the world.
For what it is worth, Min Woo was in the final round of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, 2,300 km away.
The same country. But a world away from the champagne shower and unbridled joy of the big moment of his big sister.
After he had just crawled to a 63rd finish, and with a microphone in his face and a sponsor banner behind him, Min Woo sent the most sincere and warm message that he could possibly be the most businesslike and staged institutions.
Min Woo Lee laughs after he says “Love You” in a message to Sister Minjee Lee. ((Liver: LGPA))
“I am so proud of you,” he said, because the broadcasters are inspired to send the message.
“The last few years have been difficult and I am happy to see you again in the circle of the winner.
“I am proud of you and … ah … love you.”
On the last two words, the face of Min Woo beamed.
Undoubtedly, the private calls and text messages and group chats had lit with the more candid and fervent messages from Inside Jokes and soft ridges that can only come through that love language that we all have with our close families and friends.
But in those two words, the warmth of Min Woo against his sister broke through the company career, a glimpse of home on a golf tour that so often misses a real understanding of the concept, with an endless schedule and the constant struggle to stay high enough in the ranking to make it worth it.
Minjee Lee responds after he has been shown the video of her brother. ((Delivered: NBC))
“That’s so sweet,” said Minjee when the video was shown.
“We don’t get to see each other too much, I feel that I see him more on social media than anything.
“I miss him on the road. I see that I make that a bit emotional.
“It is just very nice to know that your family supports you, wherever you are in the world, even if you are miles apart.”
This is a tour of close calls, from the heartache and of missed opportunities, which Minjee has undergone since her previous major victory in 2022, with a capitulation in last year’s US open that seems to dent her growing self -confidence.
And because of all this, Min Woo has been there for her, even through that tyranny from a distance.
“This will be the year of Minjee,” Min Woo told Australian story last year.
“She will come, she’s coming there.”
He turned to his sister during the interview.
“You don’t think you can do it,” he said.
“You will do that.”
With Putter in hand, something is tangible at home. Home is in the hole and then to the next tee to find at home.
But it is a concept that is much more difficult to locate for those on the Tour, one that differs from what you and I understand, from our own bed at night, our place on the couch, a hot meal surrounded by our loved ones.
Home is the next hotel at the next event. Home is in the clubhouse that weighs when all this is worth it.
But at home is also a message from your brother at 2300 km away. At home, the last two words of that message and the radiant smile that accompanies it is.
And at home lives in the knowledge that even if you don’t “get there”, you will always have a brother or sister who believes that you can do that.
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