Min Woo Lee has claimed his first PGA Tour victory, edging out world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by a single stroke to win the Houston Open.

Despite a hiccup on the par-5 16th at Memorial Park, where an errant drive found the water and led to a bogey, Lee showed remarkable composure on the 18th. From off the green, he executed a brilliant up-and-down to save par, finishing with a final-round 67 to reach 20-under for the tournament.

 

 

That was just enough to hold off Scheffler and Gary Woodland, who both ended at 19-under after impressive final rounds of 63 and 62, respectively.

The win marked Lee’s first PGA Tour title in 56 events, and his first victory anywhere since his triumph at the Australian PGA Championship in November 2023 at Royal Queensland.

At 26 years old, Lee earned a cool A$2.7 million in prize money for his breakthrough win in the U.S., and it came just in time for the first major of the year, the Masters, which kicks off at Augusta next week.

Lee had to battle through some tense moments, including a difficult situation on the par-5 8th where a stray tee shot forced him to take an unplayable lie. However, his penalty stroke didn’t prove too costly, as he managed to punch his third shot back into the fairway and save par with a crucial up-and-down.

Not everyone was thrilled with his methodical approach to the unplayable situation. Playing partner Alejandro Tosti raised concerns to a rules official about how long it took Lee to resolve the situation. Lee was meticulous, trying to determine whether he could play the ball from beneath the bush without incurring a penalty.

 

 

Caddie Brian “Bo” Martin offered some lighthearted advice, telling Lee, “I don’t think that’s ever the shot,” as Lee crouched down to try hitting the ball from the difficult spot.

Lee’s tee shot on the 18th hole also strayed off the fairway, and his second shot rolled through the back of the green, leaving him 53 feet from the hole. But under pressure, Lee drilled an outstanding putt, bringing the ball within inches of the hole, then tapping in for par and securing the victory.

“It’s unbelievable,” Lee said after the win, having led by four strokes going into the final round. “It was a big mental grind, and I’m really proud of myself. Scottie was right there, and it was nerve-wracking. I’ve been playing great golf lately, so to finally get it done... I’m so proud. Let’s keep it going.”

Lee had shared the lead at this year’s Players Championship after 36 holes but faltered in the final two rounds, finishing tied for 20th. Last year, he finished tied for sixth at the Players Championship and shared fifth place at the US Open. He also claimed runner-up finishes at both the Cognizant Classic and the Rocket Classic.