[PHOTO: Getty Images]
Min Woo Lee has ridden a wave of crowd support that included T-shirts dedicated to the Perth golf star during a blistering first round, upstaging big names Adam Scott and Cameron Smith to sit near the clubhouse lead on day one at the Australian PGA Championship.
The 25-year-old spotted a fan in the Brisbane galleries wearing a white shirt emblazoned with “Let him cook” – Lee’s social media catchphrase – during a seven-under 64 on Thursday at Royal Queensland.
Grouped with defending champion Cameron Smith in the second tee-time off the 10th hole at 6:10am local time, Lee outscored the major winner by nine shots and their playing partner Bob MacIntyre (69) by five. “I guess there’s a little bit of satisfaction [beating major winners like Smith and 2013 Masters winner Scott]. But there’s still three more rounds to go. I’ve still got to keep my head down and keep doing what I have to do.”
At seven-under, Lee was one shot behind first round leader Joel Nachshon of Spain (63). Just two weeks ago, Nachshon missed out on full playing privileges on the DP World Tour by a single stroke at Qualifying School Final Stage. A shot behind Lee was John Lyras while two-time winner Adam Scott (66) and Scotland’s Connor Syme, Lucas Herbert and Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune finished at five-under.
Lee has been using “Let him cook” as a self-motivating phrase on social media for several months and was glad to see the Brisbane crowds embrace his slogan.
“Yeah, I did, I just saw him, I just took a picture with him,” Lee said. “It was pretty cool. I saw him probably early on, maybe my fourth or fifth hole, so definitely pretty cool that supporters go to that length to get that shirt. [He] might have to sell it.”
Lee made the turn at two-under before a flawless back nine featuring five birdies. As a two-time DP World Tour winner who has earned his PGA Tour card for 2024 courtesy of top-six results at the Players Championship and US Open, Lee felt his name grew more popular with fans each time he returns for the Australian summer.
“Yeah, for sure; I was actually pretty nervous before the round, which I haven’t really felt in a while but that’s usually good for me,” he said. “I’d rather not get too comfortable. I felt really good out there and it’s awesome to have such a big crowd, especially at 6 o’clock in the morning.”
Lee showed no signs of jet lag from flying in from Dubai where he was playing last week’s DP World Tour finale. Lee said he’d head to American rapper Post Malone’s concert in Brisbane tonight.
Meanwhile, Scott made the turn at two-under and made four birdies and a bogey. His round was built on five birdies in six holes around the turn and two more birdies on the final three holes.
He said five-under was almost like shooting even-par considering he predicts the winning score will be 20-under.
“If you’re not five-under this morning it’s going to be a long week to get to 20-under, so I’m on par for that target,” he said.
Scott’s ball-striking had improved from a slow year with the irons and driver but he was solid on Thursday. He narrowly missed an eagle put on the seventh after hitting driver off the deck from 270 metres.
The 43-year-old also said his wedge play would likely be his biggest asset over the coming rounds.
“I think my wedge game is the best it’s ever been and I putt well most of the time, so if I can get a wedge in my hand I’ve got a good shot at converting birdies I’d like to continue improving my ball striking,” Scott said.
At three-under (68) were names like Marc Leishman, Australian Open champion Adrian Meronk, Cam Davis and LIV Golf star Joaquin Niemann.
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