If family and food count for anything, Minjee Lee is well placed to go back-to-back at this week’s BMW Ladies Championship in Korea.

Lee has not won since her playoff victory over Alison Lee at Seowon Valley Country Club 12 months ago, the return to a familiar setting with family support all around here – not to mention the Korean food – putting her in the right frame of mind for a successful defence.

Paired with New Zealand’s Lydia Ko and local hope Haeran Ryu for Thursday’s opening round, the 28-year-old is drawing on every positive memory she can to bring an end to her winning drought.

“It’s always a special week when I get to come back, and I enjoy the Korean food,” said Lee, who was part of an LPGA entourage who feasted on Korean barbecue on Tuesday.

“It’s very close to my heritage and I get to see my extended family as well. That’s always nice.

“And coming back to a golf course where you’ve won before and the memories, that’s cool, too.

“I just played one of the nines, and was like, Oh, this is where I holed a putt. And with Brad (caddie Brad Beecher) out there, we were talking about it just then.

“It’s just nice to come back; we have such great memories.”

Lee is one of five Aussies in the field this week, Hannah Green chasing a third win for the year, Grace Kim seeking her second LPGA Tour title and Gabi Ruffels and Hira Naveed both hunting their first.

Round 1 tee times

LPGA Tour
BMW Ladies Championship
Seowon Valley Country Club, Seowon Hills, Republic of Korea
10:21am*         Grace Kim
10:54am*         Hira Naveed
11:49am          Hannah Green
12pm               Gabriela Ruffels
12:22pm          Lydia Ko (NZ), Minjee Lee

Defending champion: Minjee Lee
Past Aussie winners: Minjee Lee (2023)
Prize money: $US2.2 million
TV times: Live 2pm-6pm Thursday, Friday on Fox Sports 503; Live 2pm-6pm Saturday on Fox Sports 505; Live 2pm-6pm on Fox Sports 507 and Kayo.