[PHOTO: Getty Images]
Min Woo Lee ushered in a new era of Australian golfers on the PGA Tour with a dramatic and nerve-wracking breakthrough victory on the PGA Tour at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
A former US Junior Amateur champion and three-time winner on the DP World Tour before transitioning to the PGA Tour, Lee had coughed up several chances for a maiden professional win in the US. Starting the day with a four-shot lead, Lee certainly kept his fans on the edge of his seat Sunday (Monday AEST) when he blocked a drive into the water on the par-5 16th at Memorial Park Golf course and made bogey. That ended 41 consecutive holes without a dropping a shot, and his lead was reduced to one shot with two holes remaining.
Lee also pulled his drive left on the 18th and then airmailed the green with his approach, but scratched out a par for a 67 to finish at 20-under-par. World No.1 and two-time Masters champion, Scottie Scheffler (63) as well as former US Open champion, Gary Woodland shared second at 19-under.
Lee was catching his breath when interviewed on the 18th green.
“To be honest, I played unbelievable until that bogey [on No.16],” Lee said. “It’s hard, it’s really hard. Obviously [Scheffler] is a wonderful golfer. He keeps you on your toes. It was my first time being in front and keeping a lead [on the back nine of a final round on the PGA Tour]. I’m exhausted, it was a lot of mental grind. I’m proud of the way I handled myself… it was unbelievable.”
Scheffler waited in the scoring tent to see if a playoff was needed, and when Lee showed his inner entertainer by pretending to AimPoint read a six-inch winning putt, the Texan laughed. In his final start before defending his second Masters title, Scheffler reeled off four straight birdies to get within one shot until his 7-iron on the 18th came up some 23 metres short of the green and his par save was not enough to force extra holes. Woodland played his last four holes in four-under par and his sensation 62 equalled the Memorial Park course record.
“Just trying to put as much pressure on Min Woo as I could have,” Scheffler said. “I was hoping to be able to do that on the front nine. I wasn’t able to get off to a good enough start. And he played some really good golf. I think he made one mistake on 16, but I think he did some really good stuff out there and he just went out and beat us this week.”
“Scottie is Scottie; he’s a great golfer,” added Lee. “That’s why Sundays are so tough, you know people are creeping and you know people are attacking.’
Rory McIlroy carded a 64 in his final competitive round before Augusta National. He tied for fifth and in under two weeks he’ll attempt to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters, the only trophy the four-time major winner needs.
Although he’s become a social media favourite for catchphrases such as “Let Him Cook!” and “Dr Chip-in-ski”, Lee said it was a brutal platform in the days after stumbling at the Players Championship where he gave away the 36-hole lead. “There were a couple of not-so-great messages the last few tournaments; a kick in the butt,” Lee said. “I knew I was going to get to this point [winning]. They always say the six inches between your ears, I think that was a big part of this week. I always felt like I had the assets to win, it was just can you do it mentally. Obviously a couple slip ups, especially on 16, the drive. Played very wonderful golf all week and really, really solid. I only won by one, so it’s tough.”
Lee added the Houston Open to his schedule at the suggestion of his long-time agent, Brent Hamilton, who suggested his client eschew an originally-planed three-week rest between the Players and the Masters. “I wasn’t even supposed to play in this tournament; thank you Brent for putting this on the schedule. Houston will be in my heart for a long time and… let him cook.”
Lee secured a $US1.7 million win ($A2.7 million), but more importantly earned a career milestone in his last start before the Masters at Augusta National. He also shot to world No.22, his highest-ever ranking. “Winning a tournament was one of those goals and I’m happy to check that off; I’m just so proud. Yeah, let’s keep doing it,” Lee said.
At 26, Lee fulfilled the potential many knew he had and his win comes only weeks after his friend and fellow West Australian, Karl Vilips, bagged his first PGA Tour victory at the Puerto Rico Open. Australia now has two PGA Tour winners aged in their 20s with exciting futures ahead. Cam Davis and Jason Day are in their 30s while Adam Scott turns 45 this year.
Next up, Lee said he would fly back to his Las Vegas home base where he’ll host his two-time major winning sister, LPGA star Minjee Lee, who is playing a tournament in Vegas this week. He’ll practice and prepare for the Masters in just under two weeks, where Lee owns a T-14 (his 2022 debut) and a T-22 last year.
“I just FaceTimed [Minjee] on the cart trip here,” Lee said of his sister. “I called my family, and my
mom was crying as usual, dad was very happy. I think he’s playing golf right now, but he was very happy.
My sister was the first one to pick up. I talked to her yesterday about having dinner tomorrow. She’s in Vegas and I live there and she’s playing an LPGA tournament there, so it will be very cool to see her. I haven’t seen her in a little bit, so it’s very cool to have a sister that’s really good at golf, and she’s going to win soon, too.”
