Australian golfer Min Woo Lee is on the verge of claiming his first-ever PGA Tour title after an impressive performance in the third round of the Houston Open on Saturday. Lee's remarkable round of seven-under-par 63 has granted him a four-shot lead over his competitors, positioning him in a prime spot heading into the final day of the tournament.
During the third round, Lee showcased his skill by recording either a par or a birdie at every hole, which allowed him to surge past overnight leader Scottie Scheffler. With this outstanding play, Lee has established himself as a serious contender for the title. The round came after a long day for Lee, who had to finish the last two holes of the second round early Saturday morning before teeing off again later that day.
After his phenomenal third round, Lee humorously remarked, “Today was a really long day; I need to get back into bed.” He continued, “Maybe that’s what I have to do. I might have to do two warm-ups, two physio sessions, and then maybe I can shoot seven-under all the time. It was great fun.” His lighthearted attitude reflects his determination and readiness for the challenges that lie ahead.
Min Woo Lee, who is the younger brother of LPGA star Minjee Lee, is seeking his first professional victory after 55 starts on the PGA Tour. Despite not yet securing a win, Lee has demonstrated his potential on several occasions, including a tie for sixth place at the 2023 Players Championship and a tie for fifth at the 2023 US Open. This season, he has shown promise with a tie for 20th at the Players Championship, though he faltered in the final rounds after a strong start.
Scottie Scheffler, who had an impressive second round, equaled the course record with an eight-under 62 but lost ground to Lee, finishing the day at 12 under par. Scheffler now finds himself in a three-way tie for third alongside his compatriot Ryan Gerard and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox. Meanwhile, Argentina’s Alejandro Tosti is holding a narrow lead in second place, just one shot ahead of Scheffler and the others.
As Lee gears up for the fourth round on Sunday, he is focusing on getting a “good night’s rest.” He acknowledged the challenges of the long tournament schedule, saying, “It’s tough … we finished at 8 PM last night, and we have to wake up at 5 AM. You only have like five or six hours of sleep… I’m proud of the way I handled myself today and hopefully I can do it again tomorrow.” Lee is set to tee off for the final round at 1:01 PM ET on Sunday, with hopes high for his first PGA Tour victory.
