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Min Woo Lee makes magical Masters debut

3 minute read

Emerging Australian golf star Min Woo Lee has placed in the top 15 on his Masters debut after a record-equalling performance in his final round at Augusta.

MIN WOO LEE.
MIN WOO LEE. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

It wasn't Cameron Smith but fellow Australian Min Woo Lee who lit up Augusta National with a record-setting Masters debut.

Lee briefly stormed to outright fourth on the leaderboard after equalling the lowest-ever front nine with a staggering six-under-par 30 on championship Sunday.

The emerging star eagled the par-5 second hole, then reeled off four straight birdies to surge to two under and within seven shots of eventual champion and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler.

Lee's challenge faltered with four bogeys in a row to start the back nine before another birdie on the 16th left him in a tie for 14th position at two over in a hugely impressive maiden Masters.

"It just happened so quick," Lee said after signing for a two-under round of 70.

"Poor drive on one, made a good 10-footer for par.

"Needed to go to the toilet. Smacked my drive. Ran to the bathroom. Got down there, and I hit an 8-iron in, which is unreal.

"Hit it just over the bunker, near those sprinklers just over the bunker, and it went to three feet.

"Then it happened really quick. Just nice - hit really good shots on the front nine.

"I just got the news that it was equal the course record for the front nine. So pat on the back."

The younger brother of major-winning LPGA Tour star Minjee Lee said he'd take massive confidence from his first visit to Augusta.

"Coming into this week I wasn't playing that well, so this place gets you on another level just because you're in front of millions of people and you need to play good," 23-year-old Lee said.

"There's some demanding shots out here, and it makes you kind of reverse psychology and tell yourself you just have to commit to it.

"If you have a bad swing, you have a bad swing, but you just have to commit to every shot out here.

"I didn't feel that good with the putter, and the last couple of weeks I think I strokes gained on the putter a lot.

"So really positive vibes there. I'll take a few weeks off now and work on a couple of things, but maybe a little celebratory drinks with the team tonight."

Lee ultimately finished 12 shots behind Scheffler and seven shy of Smith, who closed with a disappointing 73 to share third spot with Ireland's Shane Lowry after starting the final round with high hopes of joining Adam Scott as only Australia's second Masters champion.

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