A chip-in birdie on his remaining gap was the proper method to finish an excellent opening spherical of seven-under for Min Woo Lee in his debut as a fully-fledged US PGA Tour participant in California.
The Australian world No.37 has begun 2024 with vital expectation after going near securing an Australian event double on the finish of 2023, successful the PGA and coming third within the Open.
Having earned full-time enjoying standing within the US for the primary time, Lee made his 2024 debut on Friday morning (Australian time) on the American Categorical occasion in California the place two 10-under rounds of 62 from Masters winner Zach Johnson and Swede Alex Noren set the scoring tempo.
Out among the many later starters on the Nicklaus Match Course in La Quinta, Lee poured in eight birdies, together with 5 on his back-nine and the chip-in on the final to card a seven-under 65, which was solely adequate for 14th spot.
Whereas he has enjoying standing for weekly tour occasions, Lee is aware of he want good outcomes to get in to a few of the “Signature” PGA Tour occasions the place prize cash triples from the $12.5 million on supply this week.
The second one of many yr is the Pebble Seashore Professional-Am on the finish of January, the place the prize pool hits $30 million.
“Yeah, for positive. Enjoying good golf, clearly, would be the precedence, and that can be a bonus if I can get them,” he mentioned.
“However I’m fairly completely happy and grateful that I’m already right here and enjoying on the PGA Tour in occasions like these. Yeah, it’s good to have a, I assume, Tour card out right here and, yeah, hopefully, I can get into a few of these prime elevated occasions and play with one of the best and, yeah, I’ll attempt in direction of that.”
Jason Day was the following greatest Australian behind Lee, opening with a four-under 68, as did countryman Cam Davis.