[PHOTO: Getty Images]
Min Woo Lee has posted a solid opening result to his 2024 season on the PGA Tour, with a tie for 21st at the American Express event in California.
With rounds of 65-66-70-67, Lee showed little signs of rust as he compiled plenty of birdies across the three co-host courses at the event held in the California desert area of Palm Springs. Five dropped shots – a double-bogey and three bogeys – over 72 holes held the Perth tour pro back from truly contending.
Now a card-carrying member of the PGA Tour, having transitioned from full-time play on the DP World Tour, Lee has based himself in Las Vegas and lives with fellow tour pro Kurt Kitayama. No doubt a T-21 coming off a break of several weeks will give the 25-year-old confidence he can replicate his heroics of 2023. That breakout season featured two wins – the Macao Open on the Asian Tour and the Australian PGA Championship on the DP World Tour – plus a maiden major top-five at the US Open.
Lee was the top Australian at the American Express, nine shots behind the winner, amateur Nick Dunlap. Australia’s former world No.1 Jason Day was two shots back of Lee at 18-under, his tie for 34th courtesy of a final round of 68. Sydneysider Harrison Endycott was a shot behind Day at 17-under in a tie for 39th.
Dunlap, the University of Alabama star who won the US Amateur in 2023, stunned the golf world by becoming the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991.
Dunlap, who finished at a whopping 29-under, outlasted some of the world’s best golfers. Sam Burns led the tournament late in the round before collapsing with a double-bogey, double-bogey finish. It left South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout in second at 28-under, while Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele and Kevin Yu were among those tied third at 27-under.
Meanwhile, Adam Scott’s closing 69 at the Emirates Golf Club earned him a top-10 result to open his 2024 account. Starting his season at the Dubai Desert Classic, the Queenslander finished at nine-under and tied seventh at the prestigious Middle East event on the DP World Tour.
Scott finished only five shots behind winner, Rory McIlroy, who claimed his fourth Dubai Desert Classic victory. McIlroy successfully defended off charges from Adrian Meronk, who finished as runner-up, and third-placed Cameron Young in a fascinating final round that aired at a perfect late-evening time for Australian viewers.
Meanwhile on the PGA Tour Champions, seniors legend Steve Alker made it an exciting weekend for New Zealand golf fans by winning the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. That victory came as fellow Kiwi Lydia Ko posted her 20th LPGA title by winning the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
