A relaxed and free Minjee Lee is relishing the prospect of another torrid test as she defends her PGA Championship crown and chases the biggest pay day in women's golf history.
The ninth-ranked Lee and world No.8 Hannah Green, the 2019 winner at the famed Hazeltine National Golf Club hosting the fourth major of the year, will spearhead a seven-strong Australian challenge in Minnesota.
Officials have again increased the total purse to an eye-popping $US13 million ($A18.11 million), with the winner alone to bank a cheque for $US1.95 million ($A2.82 million).
Prize money at the event has more than trebled since 2020.
"It's not the same, but it's getting better as what the men get as well. We're going in the right direction, but we also have a little ways to go as well," Lee said ahead of Thursday night's (AEST) first round.
After recording a three-stroke triumph in brutal heat and winds last year at PGA Frisco's Fields Ranch East course in Texas to join Karrie Webb, Jan Stephenson and Green as the fourth Australian to win the PGA Championship, Lee is bracing for a different challenge this week.
But the triple major champion is still hoping for the tougher conditions the better.
"The course itself is totally different to Frisco," Lee said.
""Maybe a different type of layout and the bunkering. Just the look of it is very different. I don't think it's that similar. I do like the wind, so see how we go."
Lee is in a vastly different and happier head space than before arriving last year in somewhat of a funk.
That could spell trouble for the field, including world No.1 Nelly Korda, who is bidding for a third major of 2026.
"I really didn't see it coming at the time, so I wasn't really having that great of a year heading into last year's KPMG Women's Championship," Lee said.
"I just kind of went into the event like not having my A game, just trying to play each day as it comes, like I always do, especially because the weather was so gruelling and it was so windy.
"I feel like it actually helped me stay more in the moment and just put one foot in front of the other.
"After winning, it gave me a little bit more freedom to just play."
Enjoying a phenomenal four-win season, Green returns to the scene of her greatest triumph seven years ago.
The 29-year-old's reward is being grouped with Korda and South Korean great Sei Young Kim in the marquee trio for the opening two rounds.
Grace Kim, who won last year's Evian Championship in France, is the third Australian major champion in the field.
Gabriela Ruffels, Karis Davidson, Robyn Choi and Cassie Porter, off the back of successive top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour, round out the Aussie contingent.
