He could also be simply 26 years outdated, however many thought Min Woo Lee’s maiden PGA Tour victory would have come prior to this.
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The Australian broke by means of in spectacular vogue on the Houston Open, holding off world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland by a shot regardless of a number of nervy moments down the stretch, together with a water ball on 16 and a tense putt from off the again of the inexperienced ultimately.
However so gifted is the social media sensation from Perth, that many specialists had tipped him to perform large issues prior to 9 years after he gained the US Junior to announce himself as a star on the rise.
His 4 earlier skilled victories are to not be sneezed at, nonetheless.
Lee’s maiden triumph on the 2020 Vic Open, a DP World Tour co-sanctioned occasion on house soil, was seen on the time as the fireplace starter for a budding profession that had already ventured overseas.
The Covid-19 pandemic shutting the world down a month later compelled him to his pause, however he made up for misplaced time in 2021 by really saying himself on the world stage.
Lee defeated Matt Fitzpatrick and Thomas Detry with a nine-foot birdie putt on the first playoff gap after a streak of six straight birdies throughout the closing spherical to win the Scottish Open, the previous occasion to the British Open.
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Two years later, he additionally gained on the Asian Tour after which got here house to hitch the nation’s greats as a winner of the Australian PGA Championship.
Nevertheless it was the close to misses that fuelled his $2.7 million victory in Texas.
In 2023, Lee really introduced himself on the PGA Tour by taking part in within the closing group alongside Scheffler at The Gamers Championship.
Min Woo has enjoyable with aimpoint | 00:31
The breakout show got here after lacking the lower in all seven begins he earned by means of invitations the yr prior in his maiden season in the US.
His expertise was clear as he shined within the majors courtesy of a T14 end at The Masters, T27 on the US Open and T21 at The Open.
However his recreation was not fairly prepared to face up over 4 rounds on the large stage, and it proved so as soon as once more at TPC Sawgrass, falling away badly with a four-over par closing spherical to complete 9 pictures again from eventual winner Scheffler.
Recollections of that stumble resurfaced earlier this month as he co-led the identical event after 36 holes earlier than ultimately clinging onto a prime 20 place following rounds of 78 and 73 on the weekend as Rory McIlroy prevailed in a gripping three-hole playoff.
Not as dramatically, however final yr Lee completed runner-up twice on the Cognizant Traditional and the Rocket Mortgage Traditional, gained by compatriot Cam Davis.
‘Let him prepare dinner’ Lee pumped over proud win | 02:10
He simply couldn’t appear to ship within the moments that counted, and talking to Fox Sports activities Information shortly after his victory in Houston, Lee make clear why he had struggled prior to now.
“Clearly performed excellent the primary two rounds and the weekend was very powerful with the wind and the circumstances,” Lee recalled of The Gamers Championship earlier this month.
“However I’ve been in that state of affairs a few occasions now and I feel simply the psychological aspect of it, I used to be making an attempt to be somebody that I wasn’t actually.
“It isn’t straightforward to do this. You attempt to play it cool however you’ve simply obtained to be very mentally robust, and I suppose, within the current when you’re making an attempt to win these tournaments.
“You get forward of your self. You’ve performed so good the primary two rounds and also you wish to hold that up.
“However while you hit a poor shot or common shot after taking part in the primary two rounds unbelievable, it’s sort of like, what’s happening?
“You’re feeling the stress. It’s very psychological.
“I feel studying from these occasions, undoubtedly the psychological aspect of it, and this week was all about that. I hit nice pictures and putted very well so fairly cool feeling.”
Min Woo thrills to assert first PGA title | 03:38
The 2 defining moments of his victory have been the 2 biggest exams of the advance in his psychological power.
A sprayed tee shot on 16 sailed into the water and triggered a two-shot swing as Scheffler reeled off his fourth straight birdie within the group in entrance.
Given their historical past, it was becoming that Scheffler laid down the problem however Lee responded to make bogey together with his second tee shot, his third shot on the par 5, discovering the precise tough the place he flew his method previous the entrance pin and two-putted.
It was his solely dropped shot throughout his rounds of 63 and 67 on the weekend, however as he touched on earlier, Lee was happy that he caught to his weapons when prior to now he was more likely to err a distinct manner.
“Actually, it was actually good up till 15, 16 when on 16 I hit a very poor drive and hit it into the water on a par 5 that’s comparatively straightforward,” Lee stated.
“Taking a look at that (replay of it), it’s not very good. Clearly 194 (mph) ball pace so I clearly gave it a rip. Perhaps an excessive amount of of a rip but it surely’s a type of issues. On a Sunday at a golf event, I’m feeling good, if I hit a very good drive I could make a birdie or an eagle.
“Scottie was clearly taking part in actually good. He’d simply made a birdie and now I’m just one in entrance.
“The final two holes aren’t the simplest two so simply to get it finished, I’m very pleased with myself.”
Min Woo Lee holds on regardless of misshot | 01:40
The second second was the putt from off the again of the inexperienced on the final.
Lee averted the hazard proper off the tee by pumping it down the left hand aspect, into the left tough that’s not overly difficult and provides a good line into the inexperienced.
His method was a flyer out of the bottom nonetheless comfortable from the storms that lashed Memorial Park on Thursday and Friday, and offered the final word take a look at of his nerves.
One among Lee’s social media monikers alongside ‘the chef’ due to the ‘let him prepare dinner’ catchphrase of his followers, is ‘Dr. Chipinski’ as a result of his freakish capability to chip-in from across the inexperienced.
However the wedge stayed within the bend, as he opted for the wise play of the Texas Wedge and the ball tricked to tap-in vary, guaranteeing the win.
It really symbolised his evolution.
He hilariously aim-pointed the tiny putt, exhibiting he has discovered to mix his loveable character with the main target of a champion.
“It’s a nice feeling. To hit that putt to 6 inches, it was a large reduction. It was a really mentally draining day,” Lee stated.
“The psychological grind all week, that made the distinction. Over the previous few months, I’ve been taking part in actually good golf however to name myself a winner now’s actually particular.”
The problem now can be per week to recharge the batteries earlier than arriving at Augusta Nationwide for a tilt at The Masters.
Lee feels comfy on the iconic venue, he famously tied the file for lowest entrance 9, a six-under par 30, within the closing spherical on debut in 2022, and his win in Houston has been all a part of the plan to safe a inexperienced jacket.
The West Australian initially was not planning to play the occasion he gained, however added the cease to his schedule a number of weeks in the past due to the general public golf course’s similarities to Augusta.
It’s the identical purpose why Scheffler and world No.2 Rory McIlroy opted-in too.
Min Woo Lee nails unplayable shot | 05:37
The tough is just not thick, and never overly punishing, identical to going into the well-known pine needles at Augusta, whereas water is in play at key closing holes.
“I suppose it’s not textbook, and that’s why I did play. If it was a brief and quirky golf course, I in all probability wouldn’t have performed,” Lee stated.
“I didn’t know that I used to be going to play a pair occasions after the Masters, so it was a type of so as to add in. On the time after I obtained instructed I used to be taking part in, I wasn’t very completely satisfied however I’m very glad that my group put me on this occasion. Yeah, it’s superior.
“It’s truly not that completely different (to Augusta Nationwide). The tough isn’t overly thick. Putt effectively and chip effectively, and do all the things I suppose, but it surely’s nice confidence,” he added.
“I really like The Masters and Augusta, and I’ve performed good there earlier than. Lets do our greatest and hopefully we’ll be up there on the leaderboard.”
It’s extremely troublesome to win golf tournaments so shut collectively, however Lee has by no means gone to Augusta Nationwide so effectively ready.
He has reached a tipping level in his profession, and the world is now his oyster.
At 26 years of age, it could be the primary of many PGA Tour wins to return.
He’s now at a career-best world rating of twenty second, and the majors await.
It took longer than anticipated, however the journey was vital to really flip the prodigious expertise from a much-loved large bomber with a saucy quick recreation right into a power.
The likes of Scheffler and McIlroy certainly stood up and took discover.