Min Woo Lee after Houston Open win: “I love The Masters and Augusta, and I’ve played good there before”

One year and 56 events after joining the PGA Tour, it all fell into place for Min Woo Lee in Houston. The 26-year-old fended off challenges from world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland to clinch the Texas Children’s Houston Open 2025 by one stroke at Memorial Park Golf Course in Sunday.

It was a nerve-racking finish for Min Woo Lee, including a brush with the water at the 16th, but he kept his cool to sink the decisive putt from eight inches to finish 20-under and clinch his first ever win on the PGA Tour.

Going the distance and maintaining focus

The Australian admitted afterwards that he has been focusing on the mental side of his game.

“Obviously played very good the first two rounds and the weekend was very tough with the wind and the conditions,” Lee told Fox News, recalling of The Players Championship earlier this month in which he finished tied for 20th. “But I’ve been in that situation a couple of times now and I think just the mental side of it, I was trying to be someone that I wasn’t really. It isn’t easy to do that. You try to play it cool but you’ve just got to be very mentally strong, and I guess, in the present while you’re trying to win these tournaments.

“You get ahead of yourself. You’ve played so good the first two rounds and you want to keep that up,” he continued. “But when you hit a poor shot or average shot after playing the first two rounds unbelievable, it’s kind of like, what’s going on? You feel the pressure. It’s very mental. I think learning from those events, definitely the mental side of it, and this week was all about that. I hit great shots and putted really well so pretty cool feeling.”

Min Woo Lee has come close to winning majors in the past - he tied for sixth in the 2023 Players Championship but until now, the closing stages of tournaments have been his downfall. That’s one aspect of his game that is changing, and holding his nerve to see off Scheffler was the best feeling of all.

Min Woo Lee clings to lead

“Honestly, it was really good up until 15, 16 when on 16 I hit a really poor drive and hit it into the water on a par 5 that’s relatively easy,” Lee said. “Looking at the replay, it’s not very nice. Obviously 194 [mph] ball speed so I obviously gave it a rip. Maybe too much of a rip but it’s one of those things. On a Sunday at a golf tournament, I’m feeling good, if I hit a good drive I can make a birdie or an eagle. Scottie was obviously playing really good. He’d just made a birdie and now I’m only one in front. The last two holes aren’t the easiest two so just to get it done, I’m very proud of myself.”

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