Australia’s top two female players, Minjee Lee and Hannah Green, make their 2021 debuts in America this week after one of the longest breaks of their short careers.

Both Lee and Green have spent time at home with family and friends in Perth since the LPGA Tour championship late in December, 2020, and skipped the tour’s opening three tournaments in February and early-March.

They confront a heavy schedule for the rest of the year, beginning with the Kia Classic this week at Aviara Golf Club just outside San Diego, and immediately followed by the first major of 2021, the ANA Inspiration at Rancho Mirage in California next week.

Lee is ranked No. 8 in the world and Green No. 19. Neither player won on the LPGA Tour in 2020 although Lee logged a victory on a rare visit to the Ladies European Tour in Dubai. There are five Australians in the field this week, with the in-form Sarah Kemp and Su Oh also playing.

With a major just a week away, most of the best players in the world are teeing it up in the Kia including the top three – Jin Young Ko, Sei Young Kim and Nelly Korda.

All the players are also jockeying for spots at the Olympic Games.

Lee and Green have a strong grip on the two positions that will go to Australians for the Tokyo Games.