We have our first real rules drama of the 2025 Masters, and it involves Aussie fan favourite Min Woo Lee.
At the par-5 13th, the recent Houston Open winner hit a 294-yard drive down the middle of the fairway, which left him with 248 yards to the pin. The long-hitting Lee pulled out a long iron to go for the green, addressed his ball and promptly picked it back up. His ball had made a full rotation towards him.
“Oh, that ball just moved,” Lee could be heard saying to his caddie Bo Martin on Masters.com’s Amen Corner feed. Martin immediately called for a referee.
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A rules official arrived on scene and Lee began pleading his case. “I was just about to place [my club] down and the ball moved,” Lee told the official. “I mean, it was like so quick. It happened so quick. I was just about to do that [address the ball] and then I picked up my club.”
In the video, you can see Lee address the ball for a solid two to three seconds. He then noticed the ball moving and lifted his club up right away.
Lee and the official then made their way towards his playing partner Harris English and the two caddies in the group. “If you believe he didn’t cause the ball to move, that’s fine,” the official said to the group. They all agreed Lee hadn’t. Lee and the official went back to his ball and the official explained that he could proceed without penalty.
The Aussie went on to make what he thought was a par, then stumbled home to what he thought was a four-over 76. After the round, he was informed that the video evidence determined his actions had caused it to move and he was being hit with a one-stroke penalty:
Masters Tournament headquarters released this statement:
Statement from Tournament Headquarters:
On hole No. 13, Min Woo Lee asked for assistance after his ball moved on the fairway. It was determined his actions near the ball did cause it to move and one penalty stroke was added to his score under Rule 9.4b.— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025
Lee’s score on 13th was changed to a bogey six and his overall score to a five-over 77. After starting the day at one under for the tournament, Lee is now four over, tied for 48th.
