West Australians typically pit themselves in opposition to a perceived east coast bias and rising golf star Min Woo Lee carries himself the identical means — aside from one key distinction.
Lee doesn’t wish to simply show himself to Australia, however the world.
After dethroning Queensland golden boy Cameron Smith in his personal yard on the Australian PGA final weekend, Lee now has his sights set on successful the Australian Open which begins on Thursday.
The son of South Korean immigrants is in career-best type, rising to world No. 38 this week following a stellar season that has earned him a spot on the distinguished PGA Tour in 2024.
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That prized card got here after years of grinding away in Europe and Lee is exhibiting no indicators of slowing down, with Australia’s No. 3 intent on leapfrogging Smith or Jason Day within the rankings to earn choice for the 2024 Olympics.
Lee isn’t missing any confidence and has made himself a social media sensation – boasting 650,000 followers throughout his platforms – as crowds all over the world yell out his now trademark “let him cook dinner”.
Lee ramped up the catchcry in Brisbane final week when he donned a chef’s hat on the seventeenth inexperienced to rejoice with followers, regardless of having a gap left to play within the event that he gained by three strokes at 20-under.
‘Let him cook dinner’ loosely interprets to: let this child do his factor.
In some ways, the 25-year-old has been searching for methods to do his factor his complete life, perennially chasing world famous person older sister Minjee who has been ranked as excessive as world No. 2.
Lee presents because the carefree larrikin in stark distinction to his no-nonsense sister however make no mistake, the person they name ‘Woozy’ is a aggressive beast decided to show his doubters incorrect.
Lee will doubtless solely ever take into account that feat really completed if he overtakes his sister as the most effective golfer within the household, and to do this Lee might want to turn out to be the most effective golfer on the planet.
Foxsports.com.au requested Lee if he was acquainted with the well-known Ashes sledge Mark Waugh copped from James Ormond who informed him “at the least I’m the most effective participant in my circle of relatives”.
“I get reminded of that each couple of weeks, however that retains me humble,” Lee stated.
“She’s been enjoying actually good and usually after I win she wins the week after so she’ll in all probability win this week.
“Yeah, I get a bit pissed off when she wins the week after as a result of I obtained the sunshine on me for a bit bit then every week later she’s holding a trophy. However we’re completely happy for one another, so it’s not that dangerous of a sibling rivalry.
“I’m attempting to do my finest and clearly my sister is likely one of the finest golfers on the planet and I’m attempting to be pretty much as good as she has been and I’m excited for what the long run holds.
“There’s a little bit of rivalry there, (successful recurrently) is regular for her and I’m attempting to get to that stage.”
Lee admits the rivalry is probably going one-sided, like is normally is with older siblings, and Minjee confirms his suspicion to foxsports.com.au.
“Yeah, I don’t (care about it). Individuals prefer it so I get it, however I’m simply his large sister. I don’t see him as my competitor,” she stated.
“I need him to do nicely each single week and I’m actually happy with how a lot he’s grown his sport and matured his as a human as nicely.
“It’s actually cool to see his character on TV and social media, it’s what he was born to do. Actually totally different to me, however he’s an entertainer.
“He’s undoubtedly taken rather more accountability for a way he manages his time and what’s good for him and studying extra about what’s finest for him.
“That comes with expertise and he’s been gaining loads of expertise enjoying on totally different excursions and I believe it’s actually helped him develop. Now he’s on the PGA Tour and that’s going to actually assist him turn out to be the golfer he needs to be.
“He’s getting there. He’s rather more mature than he was once however he’s nonetheless annoying at instances.”
Lee equalling the feats of his sister would place them in probably the most rarefied air of Australian sporting siblings, proper up there with the McKeons and Kerrs.
And the outgoing character doesn’t miss a beat when requested if he has what it takes to turn out to be the most effective golfer on the planet.
“Yeah, for positive,” Lee stated assuredly.
“I don’t know when that can be however prime 50 was certainly one of my targets a number of years again and that was considerably exhausting to imagine and from the surface there have been (questions) ‘might he do it’ – and I’m near prime 30 now.
“I’m actually excited with the place my sport is at and I’d like to be the most effective participant on the planet, however loads of exhausting work and outcomes have to return with that.”
If he will get to the mountaintop, it’ll be a journey constructed on sheer willpower by the thin child from Perth that no person anticipated to get out of his sister’s shadow.
It’s why Lee – who would weigh 70 kgs ringing moist – smiles from ear to ear when requested if he prides himself on being one of many longest hitters on the planet.
“Lots of people who haven’t seen me hit the ball don’t suppose I might hit it that lengthy as a result of I’m a scrawny child, however I’m going on the market and smack the ball,” he stated.
“I’ve had that capacity from such a younger age. I performed with older youngsters after I was 12 or 13 and I at all times had the pure capacity to maintain up with them.
“So yeah, it’s fairly cool to nonetheless be one of many longest (at this stage).”
Behind the arrogance that borders on cockiness, there’s a real humbleness to Lee who stopped in need of accepting his mantle of the brand new face of golf in Australia.
“I wouldn’t say I’m the face of golf in Australia however I’m slowly going in the direction of there,” he stated.
“I’m attempting to play good golf and have a giant social media presence and attempt to encourage little youngsters and whoever needs to play golf.
“I imply it’s fairly cool and surreal to have that stated about me, it didn’t really feel like that second was going to return this fast however (I’ve) risen actually rapidly during the last yr or two and I’m actually pleased with it.
“I’ve obtained to remain humble as a result of I’m only a child from Perth and enjoying with Curtis Luck, one other Perth boy, within the closing group (final week) was unbelievable.
EPIC EAGLE from Min Woo Lee | 01:04
“I don’t usually say this to anybody however I used to be on the golf course and I stated ‘I miss enjoying with you Curtis’. It was actually a full circle second as a result of we performed so many junior tournaments collectively after which during the last 4 or 5 years we didn’t get to play in any respect so it was cool to play within the closing group on the Aussie PGA collectively.”
Lee is decided to affix his sister as an Olympian subsequent yr, with Minjee already representing Australia on the 2016 and 2020 Video games.
However to do this he’ll must proceed his surge up the rankings and overtake Day (21) or Smith (20) by June 17 subsequent yr.
“Olympics (qualifying) is the highest two on the planet rankings and proper now I’m coming third behind Cam and Jason,” he stated.
“There’s loads of chat and vibe round it, which is cool as a result of I used to be by no means actually within the dialog till the final couple of months.”
Cam Smith’s Olympics spot doubtful | 01:21
The cashed-up LIV Tour by no means got here knocking for Lee however he was certainly one of simply 20 gamers invited by Tiger Woods to affix the brand new TGL digital golf league.
It gained’t function any LIV gamers and can be contested in a multimillion-dollar, hi-tech stadium, however the built-for-television league has been delayed to 2025 on account of storm injury on the facility.
“My objective was to play on the PGA Tour and now that I’m there it’s trying even higher that I didn’t find yourself speaking to (LIV). I really like the place I’m now and I’m actually enthusiastic about subsequent yr,” Lee stated.
“I don’t know if it was Tiger that picked the (TGL) gamers however it was actually cool. I really like staff sports activities and I really like enjoying in that staff format.”
It’s the precise new-age idea that has Lee’s title written throughout it, and he’ll make sure you splash it throughout his socials which have – refreshingly – to this point proved a drive for good in his life.
Min Woo Lee wins Aus PGA Championship | 03:30
A number of Australian sports activities stars have been topic to racism on social media since its inception, however Lee stated his expertise has been overwhelmingly optimistic.
“The help has been unreal, social media has been good and I really feel like I’ve obtained a fairly good fan base,” he stated.
“There’s a few heckles every now and then on social media, however not out in particular person. I believe golf is a extremely good sport in that you simply’ve obtained to study from a younger age to play with totally different individuals. So I believe there’s loads of respect for our sport, it’s one of many solely video games the place it’s a must to preserve quiet.
“We’re attempting to develop and make it a loud sport and stuff like that, however respectfulness in our sport I believe has been superb.”