Australian Open Golf 2023: Min Woo Lee seizes lead in push for back-to-back titles
Min Woo Lee is two rounds from joining a group which includes Aussie golfing elite after surging to the lead at the Australian Open during the second round.
Who needs a putter when you can make magic happen with just about any club from anywhere on the golf course?
Not Min Woo Lee, who is Australia’s hottest golfer right now, though truth be known, he’s pretty handy with the flat stick too.
Part golfer-part celebrity chef, Lee cooked up a storm to snatch the outright lead at the halfway stage of the Australian Open with an insane second round on Friday afternoon.
Following on from his stunning victory at last week’s Australian PGA in Queensland, Lee overcame a sloppy start, when he hooked his drive into the fairway gallery before making bogey on his opening hole, to shoot a seven-under 64 at The Australian course to lead by three strokes at 12-under heading into the weekend.
Lee is quickly building a reputation for playing extraordinary shots and his latest round featured plenty of highlights – six birdies and a tap-in eagle at the last when he drilled his long approach from off the wood chips to within two feet of the cup.
“A bit lucky off the tee shot, I pulled it, but I smoked it,” Lee said.
“I knew I had a chance of carrying that bunker. Ended up in the nice pine straw out there and had a really good number for a nine-iron.
“I’ve been hitting draws all week and it kind of sat up really nicely.
“It spun left towards the hole and nearly actually went in, so really happy with that finish. It’s always nice to make an eagle whenever, but on the last hole, it’s even nicer.”
A natural showman who has become an instant crowd favourite, Lee also made a spectacular birdie on the 193 metre par-three third when he holed out from the bunker.
It was the sort of shot that every weekend hacker dreams of making once in their lifetime but Lee seems to pull a rabbit out the hat with alarming regularity.
He also saved par with another perfectly struck wedge from a sand trap in his first round and last week at Royal Queensland, he holed a 50m chip for eagle that effectively sealed his fourth title since he turned professional.
“That’s just the type of golf I play. I’m not that serious,” Lee said.
“Sometimes you play good, sometimes you play bad and right now I’m playing good and I’m having fun.
“It’s not many times we get to play out here in Australia and enjoy this type of crowd, so I’m soaking it all in.”
Already odds-on with the bookies to go on and win the men’s tournament from here, If Lee does manage to get his hands on the Stonehaven Cup on Sunday, the 25-year-old West Australian would become the first player in 12 years to capture the Australian Open and Australian PGA titles in the same year.
That would elevate him into elite company because only a handful of players have achieved the rare double: Greg Chalmers (2011), Robert Allenby (2005), Peter Lonard (2004), Greg Norman (1985), Peter Thomson (1967) and Kel Nagle (1959).
Right now, Lee’s nearest pursuers are Scotland’s Connor Syme and American Patrick Rodgers.
Playing The Lakes course, effectively next door in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Syme posted a 64 while Rodgers signed for a 70 at The Australian.
Australia’s Sam Brazel was tied for fourth at eight-under alongside Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela, who carded matching rounds of 69 at The Lakes.
After making an early exit at Royal Queensland last week, Australia’s 2022 British Open champion Cameron Smith survived the cut this time.
But he was far from perfect and threw his ball into a pond after making bogey on the 17th hole with a short missed putt, but made amends with a birdie at the last to finish at four-under, level with Adam Scott.
“I did everything I needed to do today except hole the putts, which is really frustrating,” Smith said.
“It just started to get a little bit much there at the end. But I hit a couple of nice shots into the last and walked away with a birdie, so that definitely eased the pain a little bit.”
LEE CHARGES CLEAR, SMITH HURLS BALL INTO WATER
Min Woo Lee has charged into a commanding three-shot lead at the Australian Open after an insane second round.
Following on from his stunning victory at last week’s Australian PGA in Queensland, Lee shot a seven-under 64 at The Australian on Friday to snatch the outright lead at 12-under.
Lee’s round featured six birdies and a tap-in eagle at the last after he played an astonishing approach shot from the wood chips to within two feet of the cup.
Scotland’s Connor Syme, playing The Lakes course next door, was in second position at nine under after signing for a 64.
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela were locked together at eight-under after matching rounds of 69 at The Lakes.
Australia’s British Open champion Cameron Smith threw his ball into the water after making bogey on the 17th hole but made amends with a birdie at the last to finish at four-under, level with Adam Scott.
SCOTT’S WARNING TO AUS OPEN PACESETTERS
It was a case of third time lucky for Adam Scott at The Lakes on Friday as the former Open champion moved back into contention to reclaim the Stonehaven Cup with the helping hand of a miracle eagle.
Scott, who started the day on the back nine at even par, was two under through the first nine holes of his second round when he arrived at the par four 1st. Scott promptly holed his second shot to give his round a kickstart and his title hopes an injection of hope.
“It was actually the third time I had that number today,” Scott said.
“I hadn’t practised at it and I didn’t do too good the first two goes at it, but finally figured it out and hit a nice shot straight at it, one bounce and it went in I think.”
It was a mixed bag from there on for Scott as he combined two birdies with two bogeys to finish his second round at four under, well off the leaders but good enough to give him a fighting chance if he can go low over the weekend.
He can take solace out of the fact that he made bogey at two of the par fives, holes where he can easily pick up shots if he can find his A-game. Had he nailed them, his round could have been anything.
As it was, he had to settle for a 68.
“Yeah, a few bogeys on par 5s and that’s kind of the key to The Lakes, so I can easily find four (Shots) for myself there,” he said.
The other positive for Scott is that he has two more rounds to turn it around. He has played long enough to know that the weekend can be a lottery.
The leaders can falter. The wind can pick up and the weather can turn nasty. Nerves can fray as the pressure begins to mount.
Scott may be well off the pace now but if he goes low on Saturday, anything can happen.
“I’m really happy with where I’m at,” he said.
“Had good conditions today. I haven’t felt very great on the golf course this week, my touch is off, so yeah, just not been feeling great, but it can turn around in a day.
“I’ve got two more goes at running them down.”
SCOTT, SCOT MAKE EARLY CHARGE ON DAY TWO
Scotland’s Connor Syme has been the big early mover on the second day of the Australian Open, taking the outright lead from Cameron Davis midway through his second round.
Syme began the day at eight under but picked up three shots through his opening nine holes to move to 10 under, one clear of overnight leader Davis.
Davis is due to begin his second round in the afternoon. Joaquin Niemann also moved within touching distance of the lead after picking up three shots to move to eight under while Lucas Herbert gained four shots on the field to move into a share of fifth at seven under.
Adam Scott was another to make his way up the leaderboard as he found form at The Lakes.
The former Open champion started the day even with the card but moved to five under late in his round.
Australian PGA champion Min Woo Lee and Cameron Smith are due to tee off this afternoon at The Australian Golf Club.
Oh so close! @LukasNemecz and Caitlin Peirce came this close to a hole-in-one on the 11th Hole at The Australian Golf Club#AusOpenGolf | #feelnsw | #feelnewsydneypic.twitter.com/xiHzcswbEn
— Australian Open (@AusOpenGolf) November 30, 2023
SCOTT, BADDELEY START EARLY
Former champions Adam Scott, Aaron Baddeley and Adrian Meronk were out bright and early in the second round of the Australian Open on Friday morning as they look to heap pressure on leader Cameron Davis heading into the weekend of the national championship.
Davis held a one-shot lead over the field after opening his campaign with a nine under par 63 on a day of fickle weather conditions at The Lakes and Australian Golf Clubs.
Baddeley was five shots back at four under while Scott (even par, 72) and Meronk (two over, 73) failed to make the most of the benign conditions and have plenty for work to do if they are to claim the Stonehaven Cup.
Scott and Meronk were among the early starters as they begin their second rounds just after 7am (AEDT) at The Lakes.
Baddeley will be in the group behind alongside Lucas Herbert and Joaquin Niemann.
Australian PGA winner Min Woo Lee opened his campaign with a five under par 67 and will play in the afternoon at The Australian alongside Cameron Smith, who is in danger of missing a second consecutive cut after finishing the opening day in a share of 56th at one under.
Smith endured a morning of mixed fortunes on Thursday as he made four birdies but also found the water on two occasions. The Queenslander is slowly rebuilding his confidence after a shattering week at the Australian PGA, where he watched the weekend from the clubhouse.
“There’s definitely something to build on there, for sure,” Smith said.
“I didn’t feel as kind of anxious and uncomfortable I guess. There’s a couple of really tough shots out there, particularly tee shots, so it was good to just commit.
“I hit a couple in the water, but it was nice to just feel that commitment and actually try and hit the right shot. Job done.”
Davis is the man to beat after he produced a flying start to his Open, recording seven birdies and an eagle at The Lakes.
He matched the course record set by John Senden in 2011 but was denied a share of the title because the players had been given permission to use preferred lies due to the heavy rain that impacted the course.
“That’s by far the cleanest round I’ve ever had around here and without the wind, it was awesome to make the most of the conditions the way they were,” Davis said.
In the women’s event, 16-year-old amateur Rachel Lee will look to keep some of the best players in the world at bay as she attempts to pick up where she left off in round one.
The year 10 student got the better of superstars Minjee Lee (68) and Jiyai Shin (68) in round one and will be among the latest groups to head out on Friday afternoon.
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