Australian star Min Woo Lee left Augusta with reminiscences of a primary assembly with Greg Norman however not the world rankings bump he hoped for with Olympic choice looming. Video games.
Lee, ranked 32, didn’t transfer a spot regardless of ending in a tie for twenty second whereas taking part in with a damaged finger, with each Cam Smith (68 to 52) and Cam Davis (62-57), who’re behind him within the race for a Video games spot, making their rankings transfer with top-12 finishes.
Declaring his finger challenge was “not as unhealthy” as it’d sound, Lee is within the midst of a large 2024 throughout which he’s seeking to set up himself on the PGA Tour, make his first Presidents Cup crew, and be a part of his famous person sister, Minjee, on the Olympics.
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The 25-year-old will then return residence to Australia because the “face” of the PGA championship, the place he’ll be defending his title, hoping that by then he can have breached the world’s prime 30 to underline his standing as one of many nation’s main gamers.
“I’d like to be prime 20, prime 25 by the tip of the 12 months can be wonderful,” he mentioned.
“However we’ll get to prime 30 first, that’s been a purpose of mine for the final 12 months. We’re shut, however coming twenty second on the Masters didn’t transfer me one spot, so it’s essential play nice golf to maneuver up just a bit it, so it’s fairly robust.
“I’ve made a variety of cuts (this 12 months) which is a large factor. After I began I used to be fairly inconsistent, so it’s good to see that consistency on one of many prime excursions.
“However for me it’s fairly cool to be the face, or one of many faces of Australian golf. I assume I’ve achieved properly to get right here, however I nonetheless really feel like a 20-year-old child who has simply turned skilled, so it’s cool be on the speaking levels of bringing different folks over and making it a giant match.”
Lee’s rising standing within the sport was clear, with Australian legend and LIV Golf boss Norman looking for him out on the fairways at Augusta after the “Shark” needed to supply a ticket to get into the occasion as a fan.
The pair shook palms throughout a observe spherical, and Norman made an impression on the younger star.
“At first I used to be like ‘why is he so near my ball’?” Lee mentioned of their assembly.
“I used to be attempting to hit a golf shot and it was him and his safety man actually proper on prime of my ball. I didn’t realise it was him till I noticed him a yard away from my ball. I had a smile and I used to be very shocked.
“I don’t suppose I’ve ever met him earlier than so it was cool to see Greg within the flesh.
Lee mentioned the Olympics was on the prime of his purpose checklist for 2024 and whereas he was used to “getting in tournaments late” as a part of his PGA Tour expertise, ought to his choice be locked in he would begin adjusting his taking part in schedule to finest put together for Paris.
“Each week I get requested, so it’s in my mind, in my head,” he mentioned.
“I’m fairly used to stepping into tournaments late, so mentality clever I can’t give it some thought an excessive amount of and I’ve to play the shot that’s in entrance of me.
“Schedule-wise, it’s one of many largest occasions in my schedule if I do get to play. Now we have to plan for it and we’ll discover out soon-ish with the crew. When it will get locked in I can actually lock within the schedule.”
Lee will return to taking part in motion on the Byron Nelson Basic in Could.