Min Woo Lee Claims First PGA Tour Win at Houston Open

HOUSTON (AP) — Min Woo Lee triumphed at the Houston Open on Sunday, marking his first PGA Tour victory with a remarkable performance that held off strong challenges from Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland. Lee completed the tournament with a 3-under 67, finishing at 20-under 260, which broke the tournament record by four strokes.

Lee exhibited remarkable composure throughout the final round, particularly when his 55-foot putt on the 18th hole settled inches from the cup, allowing him a tap-in par to secure his victory. “It’s hard — it’s really hard,” Lee said. “Obviously, Scottie is a wonderful golfer and he keeps you on your toes. The first time being in front, I’m glad I got it done.”

Leading by five shots entering the back nine, Lee faced a mounting challenge as Woodland surged with a stellar finish, closing his round with four birdies that matched the Memorial Park course record of 62. Scheffler, in his final tune-up before defending his Masters title, also pushed hard with four consecutive birdies, cutting Lee’s lead to just one shot.

However, the pivotal moment came on the par-5 16th hole, where Lee’s drive went into the water. After a challenging tee shot, he managed to two-putt from 40 feet for a bogey, ending a remarkable streak of 41 holes without a bogey and narrowing his advantage to a single stroke with two holes remaining.

Although feeling the pressure, Lee secured his victory with pars on the final two holes, demonstrating the mental fortitude required to win at the highest level. Woodland watched the thrilling conclusion from the range, expressing pride in his performance following a successful return to golf after undergoing brain surgery in September 2023.

Scheffler, who finished with a 63, reflected on the challenge Lee presented. “Just trying to put as much pressure on Min Woo as I could have,” Scheffler said. “I wasn’t able to get off to a good enough start. He played some really good golf, and he just went out and beat us this week.”

Lee, the younger brother of LPGA major champion Minjee Lee, now joins the ranks of players winning their first PGA Tour event this year, revitalizing discussions about his future potential on tour.

Among other notable finishes, Rory McIlroy finished fifth with a 64, and Michael Kim narrowly secured his spot in the Masters by tying for 32nd, edging out Ben Griffin by a slim margin in the world ranking.