This two-time major winner switched to a long putter and carded career-best 62 at LPGA TOC

ORLANDO, Fla. — The long putter wasn't Minjee Lee's first choice. But as she started experimenting with new looks over the offseason, the two-time major winner said it didn't feel "too weird" or "unnatural."

She put the Odyssey Square 2 Square #7 in the bag for her debut at the Hiltons Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and rolled to a career-best 10-under 62 in the closing round.

Australia's Lee made six putts of at least 10 feet on Sunday, vaulting into a share of fourth with Jin Young Ko, six shots behind winner A Lim Kim. Last season, Lee made an average of 1.8 putts of 10 feet or more per round.

"You want to be comfortable looking at the putter," said Lee of what she looks for in a new putter. "Just depends what kind of tendencies you have. For me I droop a little bit inside in my backswing, so this putter really promotes really straight back, straight forward, or just things like that in a putter, something that can help you fix your tendencies a little bit."

Lee, 28, also has a new caddie this season, with veteran looper Mike Paterson on the bag. Paterson, who worked many years for Karrie Webb and So Yeon Ryu, worked twice for Lee in 2023 at the International Crown and Founders Cup.

"It just feels very easy," said Lee. "We get along really well. His wife, Tanya, is from Perth as well and known her forever and seen Mikey around for a really long time as well."

Tanya Paterson works for British Open champion Ashleigh Buhai.

Lee often skips these early-season events in Florida and starts her year in Asia. She typically would've had an additional two to three weeks without her clubs, she said. After this week's Founders Cup, Lee will tee it up in Thailand and Singapore.

"It was a little quicker turnaround this time, but I didn't really feel too off with my swing or anything like that," said Lee. "So it was more just like getting the reps for the putter and then just coming out here really."

A 10-time winner on the LPGA, Lee's most recent victory on tour came at the 2023 BMW Ladies Championship. Lee won the 2021 Evian Championship and the 2022 U.S. Women's Open.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Minjee Lee switches to long putter, shoots 62 to close LPGA TOC