Min Woo Lee’s Australian PGA Championship defence hampered by knee problem

After just making the cut, Min Woo Lee ended his Australian PGA Championship defence on a positive note despite a knee injury.

Min Woo Lee has revealed that a “freak” knee injury affected his Australian PGA Championship defence, which ended on an encouraging note at Royal Queensland on Sunday.

Having just made the two-under cut in the rain-shortened 54-hole event, Lee finished with a five-under round of 66 to total seven-under for the tournament.

“To find something … is good stuff going into next week,” Lee said as he looked ahead to the Australian Open, which starts on Thursday at the Kingston Heath and Victoria golf clubs.

“Not much is wrong with my game. I just need to keep my head up high, and keep playing good golf.”

Lee was also confident that his left knee would be fully recovered by Thursday after being hampered at Royal Queensland in his unsuccessful bid to defend the title he won last year at the same course.

A knee problem affected Min Woo Lee’s attempts to study putts at Royal Queensland. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“I hurt my knee at the beginning of the week, so I couldn’t bend down and I still don’t have the confidence to bend down,” he said.

“That’s a reason I was a little flat for the first few days.

“It was just a freak accident. I literally just turned in bed and something popped.

“It’s getting a lot better but to read putts, I couldn’t bend down so I was half kneeling.

“When something happens you just don’t have the full trust in it yet, but I’m slowly getting to that.

“I can still swing a club at whatever miles per hour but I can’t bend down, which is really astonishing. It’s a good injury I guess.”

Lee’s Sunday round included six birdies and just one bogey.

“There were a lot of good momentum savers and lots of birdies, which is nice and good for (the Australian Open),” said the Perth product, who was also appreciative of the support he had at Royal Queensland.

“It’s very special to have that support, and it’s a reason why I come back here to play.”