Alison Lee took a deep breath at the top of her press conference on Sunday, and the emotions came quickly. This Mother's Day, Lee delivered her best finish since returning from maternity leave, a share of third place at the Mizuho Americas Open that felt like its own special victory.

"I feel like this last year has been so difficult," said Lee, whose son Levi recently turned 1. "I've worked so hard, so many nights of no sleep, trying to motivate myself to wake up, show up to the gym, show up to the golf course, even if it's for a little bit. It's been a real journey, and it's been really hard."

Lee shot 66-69 over the weekend to finish five strokes behind winner Jeeno Thitikul. The 31-year-old returned from leave with two big goals: win an LPGA event and make the 2026 Solheim Cup team. This performance, her third event back, is a promising step in that direction.

"To have weeks like this where I can really say that all the hard work I put in is paying off, and to see myself have a good finish at the end of the week, is so rewarding," Lee added. "To be able to do that and have my son here on Mother's Day, and my mom is here too, it means so much."

Lee was one of several moms in the field this week in New Jersey. Chella Choi, in her first season back after giving birth, also made the cut, finishing in a share of 45th. Madelene Sagstrom, who is pregnant, was also in the field, showcasing the growing presence of mothers on tour.

"There are so many moments where I thought, 'Oh my God, I'm doing everything I can, but I feel like I'm going backwards,'" Lee admitted. "My speed isn't the same. I'm not hitting the ball as far. I don't have enough time to practice. All these great players out here can spend hours perfecting their craft. For me, I have a limited amount of time."

But this week proved that quality can outweigh quantity. Lee's gritty performance is a testament to the resilience of working moms everywhere—and a reminder that even on the toughest days, the payoff can be just around the corner.