Lee had her four-shot overnight lead slashed in half early in the final round before hanging on, then surging gamely for a three-shot triumph in more extremely trying conditions at PGA Frisco's windswept Fields Ranch East course.
The 29-year-old bogeyed three of the first six holes in an understandably anxious start before steadying to close with a sufficiently sound two-over-par 74 on championship Sunday (Monday AEST).
Lee finished with a 72-hole four-under 284 total to deny fast-finishing American Auston Kim (68) and Thai Chanetee Wannasaen (68) improbable comeback victories at the third women's major of the year.
In adding to her 2021 Evian Championship triumph and 2022 US Open success, Lee completed the third leg of women's golf's fabled grand slam to edge ever closer to a place in the sport's Hall of Fame.
The British Open and Chevron Championship are the only two majors to elude Lee.
Just as significantly, Lee joined legends - and fellow females - Karrie Webb and Jan Stephenson as only the third Australian golfer in history to win three different major championships.
With three majors, Lee also surpassed the great Greg Norman and David Graham on Australia's all-time majors winning list.
Lee now only trails seven-times major champion Webb and five-times British Open winner Thomson.
Sunday's victory also snapped a 19-month winless run, the longest drought of her decorated career, and secured Australian women's sport's highest earner another monster cheque of $US1.8 million ($A2.8 million).
Perhaps most gratifying of all, the Perth prodigy also buried the demons from last year's spectacular final-round crash at the US Open.
Lee opened up a three-stroke back-nine lead only to collapse down the stretch to finish tied for ninth at Lancaster Country Club.
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