Min Woo Lee ready to hit some bombs at Presidents Cup in Canada

Min Woo Lee loves to lap up big crowds but even he concedes he’ll have an extra dose of nerves when he makes his long-awaited Presidents Cup debut.

Min Woo Lee knows what his biggest weapon is and despite knowing the “juices” will be flowing on the first tee of his first Presidents Cup, he’s eyeing off making an immediate impression.

International Team captain Mike Weir labelled Lee the “best driver of the ball” in world golf and the 24-year-old will get his chance to show that on the opening tee at Royal Montreal that is surrounded by grandstands ready to fuel the buzz.

Lee laps up the big crowds and the attention that has come his way in increasingly large numbers over the past couple of years, and he declared he’d bring “flair” to the event.

Wait for it …

A fresh cut for @MinWoo27Lee ✂️#IntlTeampic.twitter.com/NzNEESZtVe

— Presidents Cup International Team (@IntlTeam) September 23, 2024

But he also knows that playing for something bigger than himself, as he did at the Paris Olympics when he paired up with Presidents Cup teammate Jason Day, adds an extra element of nerves he’ll have to contain.

“It’s very special to play events like this. It just has like a very fun feel to it, but it’s also very competitive, nearly even more competitive than playing individually,” Lee said ahead of the first round on Friday morning (AEST).

“And I think also having played in the Olympics, it definitely kicks in a little bit of the juices and the adrenaline. You want to play the best that you can and you don’t want to let people down.

“Some people tend to use driver on the first tee because it’s the biggest club in the bag and have a lot of faith with it.

“Obviously, it’s going to be pretty nerve-racking too. Hopefully, I can hit a great tee shot on every hole but the first one especially.”

The focus on making a Presidents Cup team has been strong for Lee, part of the next generation of Australian and Asian golfers who lap up the enormity of the Ryder Rup, the biennial clash between the USA and Europe, and are desperate for their own slice.

"Makes me want to go play!" @IntlTeam Captain @MWeirsy takes in their cabin for the week.

"Ça me donne envie d'aller jouer !" Le capitaine de l'équipe internationale, Mike Weir, découvre leur cabine pour la semaine.#PresidentsCuppic.twitter.com/ZCTEuQ4ZHm

— Presidents Cup (@PresidentsCup) September 23, 2024

It has ensured the best players now want to get involved and means Lee and his teammates are facing off against five of the world’s top 10 players, including world No.1 Scottie Scheffler.

“The Presidents Cup is massive. That’s just been part of growing up,” Lee said.

“Obviously, the Ryder Cup is massive too but the Presidents Cup was on my mind from a young age because that’s a team event that I can play in.

“I think a big part is also due to the Presidents Cup having been played in Australia previously and also quite recently in 2019.

“The Australian crowd was so big and they got into it and that kind of drew me into the tournament so much more and I made it a goal of mine to make this team.

“I think it will be very special.”