Min Woo Heads To Masters In Maiden Tour Winning Form Denying Scheffler Houston Open Success

6 months ago by Comments Off on Min Woo Heads To Masters In Maiden Tour Winning Form Denying Scheffler Houston Open Success

Aussie Min Woo Lee is heading to next week’s Masters in the best possible form capturing a maiden PGA Tour title by bravely denying the Texas duo of World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and fellow Texan Gary Woodland with victory at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

Despite some anxiety over the closing three holes, Lee was never headed over the weekend posting a closing round a three-under 67 for a one shot success at 20-under to brilliantly win in America’s fourth largest city.

Former US Open winning Woodland birdied 15, eagled 16 and the birdied 18 in a course record equallying 62 to set the clubhouse target at 19-under.

If left the dual Masters winning Scheffler to deny Lee with the American teeing-up in Houston having won 10 of his past 27 events, and with Scheffler also throwing everything he had a Lee including birdieing four holes in succession from the 13th in a closing score of 63  to tie Woodland at 19-under.

After his bogey at 16, and a first dropped shot in over 40 holes, Lee seemed him relaxed best to par his closing two holes for the ‘W’.

“It’s just unbelievable to win”, he said.

“Up until that bogey on 16 …. I mean it’s very hard. It’s really hard. Obviously, Scottie is an unbelievable golfer and he keeps you  your toes.

“This a first time for me being in front and holding a lead and I am glad I got it down but man that was just unbelievable.  There was a lot of mental grind and I was so proud of the way I handled myself.

“Yes, I have a lot of people to thank but yeah, it was unbelievable”.

The Perth-born Lee collected a first prize cheque of $1.6m along with earning a tw0-year PGA Tour exemption to the end of 2027 while he jumped 33 places to a career high of the new World No. 22.

Lee also becomes the 10th Australian, and a first since Matt Jones in 2014, to capture the Houston Open since the touranment was first hosted in 1946.

As well, with his elder sister Minji they become only the third brother & sister combination to win on both the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour,

Min Woo also secured success with a Masters putter cover and that is where he’s next headed, having kept his cool when those around him, including playing partner Alejandro Tosti were throwing the toys out of his golfing pram as he tumbled down the board.

Another Aussie on top in Houston. Well down Min Woo Lee. Image Getty

Lee is now a double qualifier for his fourth straight Masters having earned exemption as a 2025 invitee under Category 19 and that is for being inside the top-50 at the 2024 close of the World Rankings.

His Houston Open triumph sees Lee now also qualify under Category 17 and that is as a PGA Tour winner for the period from the first week post the 2024 Masters to the last week prior the 2025 hosting.

Lee will be among five Aussies teeing-up on the Georgia golfing gem.

Not only is this Aussie-born writer delighted for Min Woo in capturing a maiden PGA Tour title but also for his caddy Brian ‘Bo’ Martin, former long-time caddy to fellow Irishman Shane Lowry and with the duo together for victory in the 2019 Open Championship on their home soil at Royal Portrush.

Martin and Lowry split in 2023 and it was late last year when Martin and Lee became a golfer/caddy item.

And if there was a moment in the final round when Martin came into his own, it was at the par-5 eighth hole where Min Woo sprayed his tee shot well right and with his ball coming to rest in bushes.  Min Woo considered what shot he would play, even getting down on his knees in practicing a shot and also getting himself into the bushes thinking he could hit the ball also from standing up.

However, Martin was having none of it and encouraged Min Woo to take a penalty drop which he hid ahead of holing a brilliant six-footer to save par and thus ensure himself a run of 33 Houston Open holes without a blemish.

Though in superbly saving par at the eighth hole Lee found his four shot lead being cut to just two with Woodland grabbing a fifth birdie of his round to move to 16-under after 10 holes.

But Lee was not going to be denied landing his tee shot at the par-3 ninth to just five feet, holing the putt and heading the back nine three shots in front.

He comfortably maintained his demeanour with further birdies at 12 and 13 as Woodland eagled 16 and move to 18-under and now just three clear.

Lee’s only real nerve-wracking moment was finding  the water way right at the par-5 16th from where he walked off with a bogey ‘6’ and now just one shot clear,

He pared 17 but then was left off the tee coming down the last ahead of sending second shot just off the back of the 18th green and 54-feet from the hole.

Then with Woodland on the practice range in anticipation of a play-off and Scheffler in the scorer’s hut watching the action TV, Ming Woo calmly rolled his putt to just eight inches for a tap-in par and a much-deserved victory.

It was only then that Min Woo could finally release that winning emotion and also warmly embracing his caddy who had already removed the 18th hole flag as a worthy long-time reminder.

“They always say the six inches between your ears, I think that was a big part of this week”, Min Woo added.

“I always felt like I had the assets to win, it was just can you do it mentally.

“Obviously a couple slip ups, especially on 16, the drive. Played very wonderful golf all week and really, really solid.

“I only won by one, so it’s tough. Keep doing what I’m doing. And yeah, it’s a lot of mental.

“These guys that win, they’re mentally strong”.

Well said Min Woo and well down to both you and Bo …  Bernie

Australian-born winners TC Houston Open:

2025 – Min Woo Lee; 2014 – Matt Jones; 2007 – Adam Scott; 2006 – Stuart Appleby; 2000 – Robert Allenby; 1999 – Stuart Appleby;  1983 – David Graham; 1975 – Bruce Crampton; 1973 – Bruce Crampton; 1972 – Bruce Devlin.



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