[PHOTO: Brett Costello]
The Min Woo Lee showreel continues to roll as golf’s newest showman produced a spectacular eagle from the pinestraw on his final hole to grab a three-stroke lead at the halfway mark of the ISPS Handa Australian Open in Sydney.
Lee fired a sensational seven-under 64 at The Australian Golf Club with an inward nine of just 30 strokes. Lee saved his best for last with a tap-in eagle 3 at the par-5 18th hole.
The 25-year-old from Perth’s tee shot had found the straw under a pine tree off the left edge of the fairway. With 173 metres to the flagstick, Lee opted for a 9-iron and took an aggressive line towards the greenside pond. He executed perfectly, hooking the ball to the centre off the green from where it screwed towards the pin, finishing 50 centimetres from the cup.
The sidespin Lee extracted from the pinestraw was reminiscent of Bubba Watson at Augusta National on the second playoff hole to win the 2012 Masters. Watson hooked a gap wedge some 35 metres to Augusta’s 10th green with the ball settling 10 feet from the flagstick from where he two-putted for the first of two green jackets.
Speaking about his magical shot, Lee said: “A bit lucky off the tee shot. I pulled it but I smoked it, so I knew I had a chance of carrying that bunker. Ended up in the nice pinestraw out there and had a really good number for a 9-iron. Like really big 9-iron, and I’ve been hitting draws all week and it kind of sat up really nicely. I saw the coverage and it spun left towards the hole and nearly went in. So really happy with that finish. It’s always nice to make an eagle whenever, but on the last hole it’s even nicer.”
Lee is seeking to become the first player to complete the Australian Open/PGA double since Greg Chalmers a dozen years ago. It won’t be easy with 14 other players within five strokes of the lead.
Scotland’s Connor Syme (70) and American Patrick Rodgers (70) are the closest pursuers three strokes back. Chile’s LIV Golf star Joaquin Neiman (69), Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas (69) and Lismore’s Sam Brazel are four behind. Sydney teenager Jeffrey Guan is also in the mix after shooting a 66 at The Lakes.
However, Lee won’t change his aggressive approach as he chases a third win in five starts. “People know who I am. I’m pretty true to myself. I don’t back down from anything and I’m an aggressive player and I’ve always been that way.”
Meanwhile, Min Woo’s sister Minjee Lee faces a huge challenge to win her maiden Women’s Australian Open after a disappointing round. Playing a group behind her brother, it took 14 holes for the world No.5 to post her only birdie of the day as she carded a three-over 75.
Lee is tied for 11th at even-par and is nine strokes behind the leader, Korea’s two-time Major champion Jiyai Shin (68). South Africa’s defending champion Ashleigh Buhai (70) is two strokes behind at seven-under while American Jenny Shin (73) is three off the pace.
But in an encouraging sign for Australian golf, three amateurs are currently in the top six. Justice Bosio (69) is outright fourth and five strokes behind while Sarah Hammett (71) and Caitlin Peirce (69) trail by six.
In the All Abilities Championship, Australians Cameron Pollard and Lachlan Wood have a share of the lead with Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor heading into Saturday’s final round.
Pollard (74), Wood (72) and Lawlor (70) sit at one-over 143 through 36 holes. Italian Tommaso Perrino (76) is two strokes behind while defending champion Kipp Popert (71) of England trails by three. The tournament is wide open considering Sweden’s Johan Kammerstad bettered his opening round by 10 strokes with a two-under 69 to be five strokes off the pace.
With Sydney basking in sunshine, tournaments organisers would be pleased that all 252 competitors completed their second rounds to avoid a logistical nightmare on Saturday morning, when tee-times will start from 6:30.
FULL AUSTRALIAN OPEN COVERAGE HERE
