Red-hot Aussie Min Woo Lee ‘wooed’ crowds with a stunning eagle ‘3’ at the final hole to take a three-shot lead into the closing two round of the ISPS Handa Australian Open in Sydney.
Lee, 23, found pine straw in trees down the left side of the 18th hole ahead of playing a 173-metre 9-iron second shot to near tap-in distance at the last, in a round of 64 to move three clear of his rivals at 12-under-par.
The highest-ranked player in the co-sanctioned field at World No. 38 completed the back nine in just 30 shots and with Scot Connor Syme (70) and American Patrick Rodgers (70) tied second on nine-under.
A “big 9 iron” from 191 yards to 3 feet 🤩@Minwoo27Lee made the par 5 18th look easy. #AusOpenGolf pic.twitter.com/QsnmQTheJg
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 1, 2023
“Had a really good number for a 9-iron, like really big 9-iron, and I’ve been hitting draws all week and it kind of sat up really nicely,” Lee said.
“I saw the (TV) coverage, and 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.”
He is aiming to be the first player to win the PGA and the Open in the same year since Greg Chalmers in 2011 and his profile and popularity suggest that tens of thousands of fans will be out at The Australian this weekend to see if he can achieve it.
Overnight leader Cam Davis fell away with a second-round 74, but major champion Cameron Smith showed some better signs with a second-round 69.
In the Australian Women’s Open, and being held concurrently with the men’s, South Korean Jayai Shin leads the by two shots at nine-under, and the former World No. 1 and two time major champ seeking to celebrate the 10th annniversary of her 2013 Australian Open triumph.
The now 35 -year-old Shin has won 64 pro titles in her stunning LPGA Hall of Fame career.
