Australian PGA: Miracle shot catapults Min Woo Lee to title
Flashes of Tiger Woods as Min Woo Lee turns the Australian PGA into a one-man party hole.
Let’s be a bit sensible here. Min Woo Lee is only just announcing himself to the broader audience. But there are flashbacks to Tiger Woods in the way he electrifies a crowd.
Few athletes ooze sufficient flair and rock-star charisma to adrenalise the masses while towelling up the foe but Lee’s commanding triumph at the Australian PGA Championship was rousing enough to warrant a kickstand microphone and blistering guitar solo.
His kitchen rules. “Let that young man cook,” was the oft-repeated and suddenly famous refrain that followed the wannabe world No.1 around Royal Queensland on Sunday.
Folks wore giant chef hats. At the party hole, he whacked one on himself. He was so far ahead he could’ve played the last in an apron. When Lee’s favourite character, Dr Chipinski, holed out for an eagle from 50m on the ninth hole, one hysterical patron hollered, “Stick a fork in it! We’re done!”
Lee said of the stroke that made the walls shake: “The best atmosphere shot I’ve ever hit. That was unbelievable. I probably haven’t screamed louder than that. Ever. And I couldn’t even hear myself. That was special. I can’t wait to see the video.”
Watching the video, he said: “This is it! Oh, I get goosebumps and tears looking at that.”
Lee’s sumptuous four-round, four-course meal of a performance tallied 64-66-66-68 for a total of 20-under-par and a three-stroke victory over Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino. Lick the plate.
There was some funny stuff in the swarming, swollen gallery. If you can’t handle the heat get out of Min’s kitchen! Shrimp’s on the barbie! Winner winner, chicken dinner! Bon appetite, baby! Min’s recipe! For success! Make ’em toast, Min! What’s cookin’, good lookin’! It’s all gravy, baby! Woo-hooooo! Min Wooooo! One drive sailed away to the tune of, “Meat and potatoooooes!” It was a whole lot of fun. Which sport is meant to be.
“Australia’s unbelievable,” he said. “It’s one of the best places to play. The support is unreal and I appreciate it. I’m really thankful.”
Woods could ignite a tournament by merely walking to the first tee. Folks lined 10 deep, 20 deep, 30 deep to follow him like he was Santa with a sack full of presents.
At Woods’ imperious best, recall his chip-in from behind the 16th green at the 2005 US Masters. A long serpentine chip he’d be lucky to get within a bull’s roar.
He thought about his options so long he might have been contemplating the move of a bishop from C1 to G5. Woods was watchable because he backed himself in any situation. Get it close? He’d rather hole the bloody thing.
The ball swung wildly from left to right, the patrons roared it home like it was the Kentucky Derby. It paused on the edge of the cup to take a bow then swan-dived in. CBS commentator Verne Lundquist gave the most beautiful call: “Oh my goodness! In your life have you seen anything like that!”
There were two party holes at the Australian PGA. The 17th, and any that Lee was playing.
I reckon the highlight at the par-three was Cameron John’s attempt to make a birdie putt on Saturday while about 3000 patrons, most of them somewhat sozzled and needing a Plan B to get home, fairly belted out the chorus to John Farnham’s You’re The Voice. Hilarious, really. He missed and tried to understand it.
Lee was a walking, talking, one-man party hole, exactly what the sport needs. We respect the quiet efficiency of the textbook golf professional but we also want someone with a bit of sizzle.
A machine of the excitement variety. Here he is on the ninth green. Taking an eternity to gauge the angles on behalf of Dr Chipinski. The punch-and-run rolled like it was on a train track to the cup. Oh my goodness. It went in. The joint erupted as Lee clenched his fists. A big bopper in a Warriors jersey got airborne. All roared and adored the shot that put the tournament to bed. With a full stomach. In your life …
“Limits,” he said of his future prospects. “I don’t think so. I want to be the No.1 player in the world. It’s still a long way away but I feel like I’m on the right track.”
Rock star. NBA legend Steph Curry’s number is in his phone. Just a touch of Tiger Woods about it all. Hoshino posted a closing 68 as Australia’s Marc Leishman conjured the finest round of the final day, a seven-under 64 to finish third on 16-under. Lee will be joined by big sister Minjee, the world No.5 and most accomplished player in the family, as they chase an unprecedented sibling double at this week’s men’s and women’s Australian Opens in Sydney.
“I can win again,” Lee said.
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