Staff WriterAlison Lee has never been one to tiptoe back into the spotlight. Six months after welcoming her son Levi, Alison Lee has thrown herself back into elite golf with the same stubborn grit that marked her rise through the amateur ranks. Motherhood may have changed her priorities, but it hasn’t dulled her competitive edge — if anything, it’s given her game a sharper bite.
The 30-year-old is back on the world stage, hunting down her long-held ambitions with renewed clarity and a deeper reservoir of resilience. The layoff didn’t soften her; it tempered her.
Reflecting on her return at the Aramco China Championship, Lee was candid about juggling life as a new mum while trying to maintain the standards she demands from herself.
“Levi is such a sweet baby,” she says, smiling. “He’s now six months, and he’s a dream. He sleeps 12 hours, which changed my life. I’m playing golf again, travelling again, living my dream and being a mum. It’s really rewarding.”
A comeback stitched together with grit
Her return wasn’t wrapped in sentiment. It started with pain — plenty of it. An emergency C-section left her unable to walk for days, and the road back to full power was long and unforgiving.
“The first few days, I couldn’t walk,” she recalls. “At six weeks I started putting and chipping, then swinging at eight to nine weeks, and drivers around week ten. I lost a ton of power, my ball speed dropped nearly 20 mph. I cried some days, thinking I was so far behind.”
Plenty of players would have stepped back, but Lee’s stubborn streak runs deep.
“I’ve been a pro for 11 years. I’ve won on the LET, but not yet on the LPGA, and that dream keeps me going,” she says. “Some days I don’t want to practise, but I push myself. Still, I often feel like I’m not practising enough and not being the best mom. I’m still figuring out the balance, and it’s getting easier.”
Her résumé speaks for itself: former World No. 1 amateur, six-time AJGA First-Team All-American, USA representative in the Junior Solheim Cup, Junior Ryder Cup and Curtis Cup. Since turning pro in 2014, she’s banked two LET wins, including a commanding triumph in Riyadh in 2023, and top-10s in majors like The Evian Championship (T6) and the Chevron Championship (T8).
The team behind her fight
Behind every comeback is a cast of unsung heroes, and Lee doesn’t shy away from giving them their due. Her mother and Levi’s father have steadied the ship, ensuring she can chase birdies while raising a baby.
“Having help has been huge,” she says. “You can’t do everything alone.”
Stacy Lewis is another quiet influence. Seeing the former world No. 1 return after motherhood gave Lee a roadmap, but she’s well aware that no two journeys look the same.
“Every woman and every baby is different,” she reflects. “Some people say you should stay home longer, others say the opposite. I’m just doing what works for me.”
A partner, not just a sponsor
Her partnership with Golf Saudi has become a cornerstone of her career — a relationship she describes with genuine appreciation.
“They’ve stayed committed to women’s golf,” she says. “Purses have grown, production is better, and there are more events. To grow the game, you need investment, and they believe in us.”
“It’s meaningful,” Lee adds. “You feel the investment, the care, the intention behind it. That kind of support makes a difference.”
Golf Saudi’s investment in the women’s game is no token gesture. Their backing has funded 30 Ladies European Tour events with prize funds totalling $45.5 million, supported 14 female professionals, and opened the sport to more than 6,000 women and girls across the country through free coaching programmes.
Redefining success — on her terms
Trophies aren’t the sole motivation anymore. Legacy carries just as much weight.
“I want Levi to see that hard work pays off,” she says. “My mum was a full-time working mum who did everything for me. She’s my role model. I want to be that for him.”
Her advice to athletes considering motherhood hits with the blunt honesty of someone who’s lived it:
“Give yourself grace. Only a few come back and instantly play great, and usually they have help. To be a great athlete, sometimes you have to be selfish, and that’s okay. Take breaks, ask for help. It makes you a better mum too.”
Eyes on a big 2026
Lee isn’t easing her way back into competition; she’s charging at it.
“I don’t want to just make cuts, I want to contend. This year was about seeing where my game is after taking time off. I’ll work hard this off-season and hope for a big 2026.”
Her story blends strength, vulnerability, ambition and old-school determination. Alison Lee isn’t just returning to golf — she’s reshaping the definition of a modern athlete and mother, one swing at a time.
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