HOUSTON — Min Woo Lee emerged victorious at the Houston Open, securing his first title on the PGA Tour amidst fierce competition from Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland. Lee displayed remarkable composure on the final day of the tournament, concluding with an impressive 3-under 67, which led to a one-shot victory. His performance culminated in a dramatic moment at the 18th hole, where a 55-foot putt narrowly avoided going in, leaving him a simple tap-in for par. He completed the tournament at 20-under 260, setting a new record for the event by four strokes.
Reflecting on his win, Lee remarked on the challenging nature of the competition. “It’s hard — it’s really hard. Obviously, Scottie is a wonderful golfer and he keeps you on your toes,” he commented. “The first time being in front, I’m glad I got it done. I’m very exhausted. It was a lot of mental grind. I’m so proud of how I handled myself.”
Lee faced intense pressure after one misstep turned what seemed like a straightforward victory into a tense finale. His commanding five-shot lead shrank during the back nine as Woodland executed a superb finish, playing the last four holes 4-under par and matching the course record with a round of 62. Meanwhile, Scheffler, preparing for his Masters title defense, staged a formidable challenge with four consecutive birdies, closing in on Lee’s lead.
Scheffler’s attempt to maintain pressure fell short when his approach at the 18th hole landed significantly shy of the target. Still, he managed to earn par, finishing with a 63. Lee’s lead diminished when a wayward tee shot on the par-5 16th ended his long streak of bogey-free holes, cutting his advantage to a single shot. Nonetheless, Lee navigated the closing holes meticulously and his choice to putt rather than chip from the edge on the 18th proved decisive.
Gary Woodland, observing the final moments from the practice range, celebrated his best result since undergoing brain surgery to remove a tumor earlier in the year. His runner-up finish bolstered his standings significantly, especially being the last year of his exemption following his 2019 U.S. Open victory.
Scottie Scheffler, watching Lee seal the win, acknowledged the young golfer’s exceptional play. “Just trying to put as much pressure on Min Woo as I could have,” Scheffler said, recognizing Lee’s impressive golf. “I think he made one mistake on 16, but I think he did some really good stuff out there and he just went out and beat us this week.”
At 26, Lee marked his first PGA Tour triumph, having already collected victories on both the European and Asian tours. He joined the ranks of first-time winners on the PGA Tour this season. Sami Valimaki from Finland also matched the tournament record with his own 62, concluding in fourth place.
Rory McIlroy shot a promising 64 but with early and late bogeys, settled for a tie at fifth, as he prepares for the Masters and the potential to complete his career Grand Slam. Meanwhile, Michael Kim and Ben Griffin were in a tight contest to break into the top 50 in world rankings, with Kim narrowly succeeding to claim the spot with a crucial putt.
With this victory, Lee’s position in the Masters was already secure from his top 50 rank at the previous year’s end. Now, with a PGA Tour title in hand, he looks forward to capitalizing on more high-stakes events this year. As Woodland put it, “Everyone out here knows how talented the kid is. He’s an absolute stud. We all know once you break through for him sky’s the limit, so really happy for him. For me, it was great just to get those juices flowing again, just to see some results.”