HOUSTON — Min Woo Lee made a stunning move in the Houston Open on Saturday, firing a 7-under 63 to secure a four-stroke advantage, distancing himself from contenders like Scottie Scheffler as he approaches what could be his first PGA Tour victory.
Beginning the third round just one shot behind the lead, Scheffler struggled to gain momentum at Memorial Park. Limited to birdies on the par 5s, he missed several crucial par putts within the six-foot range, ending the day five shots back with a 69.
Lee, at 26 years old and the younger brother of LPGA major winner Minjee Lee, transformed the congested leaderboard into a more distinct separation. This breakthrough came near the turn, punctuated by a near hole-in-one on the par-3 ninth, a 12-foot birdie on the tenth, and a precise approach to within five feet on the 12th. To his credit, Lee managed eight one-putt greens consecutively, thanks to some advantageous positions just off the green.
“Everything’s kind of clicking and I just feel really good about it,” Lee remarked, reflecting on his performance.
With a history of three European Tour victories and one on the Asian Tour, Lee ended the day at 17-under 193. He maintained a four-shot lead over Alejandro Tosti of Argentina, who shot a remarkable 65. Tosti, having come close to victory at the Houston Open last year, is now chasing Lee again.
Sharing the five-shot gap with Lee are Ryan Fox, who carded a 65, and Ryan Gerard with his 68. Rory McIlroy, who teed off first on the tenth in a dual-tee start, secured an eagle late in his game to conclude with a 66, placing him eight shots behind.
Scheffler’s round hit a snag with his first bogey of the tournament on the fourth after overshooting the green and pitching too heavily. Despite the lone setback, it was the unproductive stretches that concerned him most, evidenced by his missed 15-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th, a failed birdie from 12 feet on the par-4 17th, and a lackluster birdie attempt on the 18th that left him unsatisfied.
Reflecting on his experience, Scheffler said, “I feel like yesterday I holed a bunch of putts. Today I feel like I couldn’t get the ball to go in the hole.”
Davis Thompson initially posed a challenge by closing in on Scheffler, though he too lost pace. The contest at one point saw all eyes on Scheffler, Lee, and Taylor Pendrith at the top before Lee created a sizeable buffer.
Starting with an unexpected chip-in on the sixth hole, Lee executed four birdies over six holes, beginning at the ninth, during a period that solidified his lead.
Despite a potential six-shot lead, competitors slightly bridged the gap as Lee missed birdie opportunities late, particularly with a three-putt from 70 feet on the par-5 16th and a less than ideal chip on 17th. Yet, his tiredness was outweighed by the satisfaction of his overall achievements for the day.
“I need to get back into bed,” Lee confessed, acknowledging the fatigue from a long day that started early, completing rain-delayed holes in the morning. He jested about what may have been a lucky routine, “Maybe that’s what I have to do. I might have to do two warm-ups, two physio sessions and maybe I can shoot 7 under all the time. No, it was great fun and very solid overall.”
Already qualified for the Masters due to his world ranking from the end of last year, Lee remains focused. Meanwhile, Michael Kim and Ben Griffin are eyeing their chance to join the field at Augusta National, currently flirting with the top 50 barrier that a strong Sunday performance could see them break through. Kim, tied for 29th, seems well-positioned, while Griffin, tied for 41st, has ground to make up.