Two of Min Woo Lee’s many timeless teachings from the Texas Children’s Houston Open will always be relevant.
First win on the PGA TOUR is as difficult as they say and pride matters.
Lee’s 20-under 260 at Memorial Park Golf Course earned him his first TOUR victory. On a rugged and renowned municipal golf course that was constructed over a century ago and renovated by Tom Doak in 2019, he shot 66-64-63-67 in the face of wind, rain, mist, and sun. He became the 7th player in TOUR history to win for the first time for the Texas Children’s.
It wasn’t simple. It was uncomfortable. There was drama and stress involved. After three rounds, Lee had a dominating 4 stroke lead. He finished at 2-under 33 after playing consistent golf at a slow, cautious tempo on a filmy, grey Sunday afternoon with rising gusts. His score was neither stunning nor devastating.
However, Lee was surrounded by people who were playing amazing golf. With an 8-under 62, Gary Woodland made a strong drive. Scottie Scheffler shoved a 63. 64 was shot by Rory McIlroy.
Lee glided through his round without incident until the 16th hole, with the exception of an up-and-down par from 87 yards at the 8th par-5 hole, when he took an unplayable lie after a misplaced tee shot. His lead had grown to four strokes as he made consecutive birdies at the par-4 12th and 13th holes. By the time Lee drove into a huge pond on the right at the par-5 16th hole, however, that margin had long since evaporated. His third from the tee was played. His one bogie of the day was the outcome.
For Lee, it came at a terrible moment. Woodland, Scheffler, and numerous more players appeared to return to the event as a result.
“That explains why Sundays are so difficult. You know people are creeping and attacking.” Lee said.
As Lee made his way up the 16th fairway to his ball, he was at a pivotal point. He was aware that Scheffler was running. The group just in front of him included the world No. 1. Experience was not enough to get Lee through this. He had failed to win on the TOUR in 55 starts. He could, however, remind himself of his improved performance since Thursday. That was something to be proud of. He tried not to panic and kept his head up.
“The day was really taxing on the mind. But I’m really happy that I won.” said Min Woo Lee who earned 500 FedEx points and moved to 16 on the season Long Standings.
The 26-year-old Australian, who is one of the longest drivers in the game and a master with his wedges, claimed to have sensed the numerous eyes on him throughout the final 2 rounds at Memorial Park. They looked at him. After all, he had long been the focus of discussions about rising TOUR stars who were bound for success. When he would become was the question. The audiences on Sunday were particularly large and boisterous, giving the impression that the entire city of Houston was watching.
I always thought I had what it took to win. “Can I do it, mentally?” was all that needed to be asked.
The response was in the affirmative.
Shortly after his victory, his sister, Minjee Lee, an LPGA golfer, had a video conference with her brother. Their mum picked up the telephone. She was in tears. Lee spoke with his father, who also played golf on Sunday, but not for the exemption, FedExCup points, or even history, and not for the same amount of money. It was the type of talk Lee had hoped to have with his family during his call. It was just as reassuring as he had thought.
It all came down to pride, love, and faith. Specifics, such as the par on the last hole that guaranteed Lee’s victory, are not important.
They will undoubtedly discuss that at some point. At the 18th hole, Lee can tell them how surprised he was when his 155-yard approach plodded through the enormous green and landed in the fringe, over 50 feet from the cup. It seemed like the tournament might end at that point. Woodland and Scheffler, who had ended at 19-under 261, seemed to want to get ready for a playoff at that point.
Lee can inform his parents and sister that he inhaled deeply. that he deliberated and slowed it down. He thought about chipping the ball, saying, “If I had a match or had just been playing at home, I probably would have chipped that nine out of ten times.” However, that wasn’t this.
The spread pleased him. However, he clarified, “it was really difficult to judge the pace.” To win for the first time, he had to hit his ball hard enough through the longer grass, but not so hard that it made contact with the slope on the left side of the hole and dropped so far that he had a 10-footer.
There was plenty to consider. Lee made an effort to focus.
Putter was his choice. The putter from off the green, known as the “Texas wedge” in the Lone Star State, was ultimately a memorable decision on a municipal golf course. However, he would never reveal to his family that he wished to honour a hacker’s play. It was the right club at the right time, he will tell them.
With conviction, he referred to it as “the reliable choice.”
His ball came to a halt eight inches from the cup.
“Seeing it come so close made me very happy,” Lee remarked.
He will conclude by telling his family, in an authoritative voice, how he discovered how difficult it is to succeed on a tour.
