Min Woo Lee edges out world No.1 Scottie Scheffler to win Houston Open
Australian golfer Min Woo Lee has held on for an “unbelievable” maiden PGA Tour win less than two weeks out from the Masters.
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Min Woo Lee didn’t want to play in the Houston Open, but his entry into the event proved to be a masterstroke, with the Perth golfer securing his maiden PGA Tour win, holding off world No.1 Scottie Scheffler to claim victory by one shot.
Surviving an errant drive that ended up in the water and led to a bogey on the par-five 16th at the Memorial Park layout, Lee then showed nerves of steel on the 18th with an up and down from off the green to save par and shoot a final-round 67 to finish at 20-under.
It was just enough to get the better of Scheffler and Gary Woodland, who both finished at 19-under after shooting respective final rounds of 63 and 62.
The win – Lee’s first in 56 PGA Tour events and his first victory anywhere since his Australian PGA Championship triumph at Royal Queensland in November 2023 – earnt him $US1.71m ($A2.72m).
It was also a timely return to winning form for Lee ahead of the first major of the year, the Masters, which starts at Augusta on Thursday week.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Lee, who led by four strokes after the third round.
“It was a big mental grind and I’m very proud. Scottie was right there, and it was nerve-racking.
“I’ve been playing a lot of good golf over the last couple of months, so to get it done … I’m so proud.”
But not too proud to admit that he initially wasn’t keen to contest the event.
“If it was a short and quirky golf course, I probably wouldn’t have played,” Lee said.
“I didn’t know that I was going to play a couple events after the Masters, so (the Houston Open) was one of those to add in.
“At the time when I got told I was playing, I wasn’t very happy, but I’m very glad that my team put me in this event. It’s awesome.”
Lee’s win in Houston moved him from 55th to a career-high 22nd in the official world golf rankings, making him the highest-ranked Australian player ahead of Adam Scott (32) and Jason Day (36).
The victory also lifted Lee to 16th in the FedExCup standings.
“I always felt like I had the assets to win (on the PGA Tour), it was just ‘can you do it mentally?’ I’m slowly finding my feet in my craft and hopefully we can go on from here,” he said.
Lee admitted he was “freaking out” at the thought of Scheffler making a birdie on the 72nd hole to move level with him at 20-under.
“It looked like I was cool, but I didn’t want him to make birdie,” Lee said.
“That’s why (final rounds) are so tough. You know people are creeping and you know people are attacking.”
Lee was quick to get in contact with his sister and two-time major winner Minjee Lee after his victory.
“My sister was the first one to pick up. I called my family, and my mum was crying as usual. Dad was very happy,” he said.
Day was the only other Australian to make the cut, with the Queenslander finishing in a tie for 27th at nine-under after a final round of 66.
Originally published as Min Woo Lee edges out world No.1 Scottie Scheffler to win Houston Open
Aussie beats World No. 1 in thrilling win
Australian golfer Min Woo Lee has held on for an “unbelievable” maiden PGA Tour win less than two weeks out from the Masters.
‘Let him cook’: Aussie star silences world No.1 in stunning PGA victory
He’s nicknamed “The Chef” and he found the right ingredients at the perfect time — Min Woo Lee held off world No.1 Scottie Scheffler in a tense finish to claim a stunning Houston Open win.