3 minute read
Inspired by his major-winning sister Minjee, emerging Australian golf star Min Woo Lee says he too can contend at this week's US Open in Massachusetts.
Min Woo Lee plans on tapping into his major-winning sister's mental steel in an audacious bid to complete a unique family double at the US Open in Massachusetts.
Less than a fortnight after Minjee Lee claimed the US Women's Open with an unflappable display at Pine Needles, Min Woo gets his chance to win the men's edition at Brookline.
No brother and sister have ever both won a golf major.
But no brother-sister act had ever both won the US junior championship, either, until Min Woo snared the boys' title in 2016 after Minjee hoisted the girls' trophy four years earlier.
The Lees are a special family and Min Woo says he's drawing inspiration from his older sibling ahead of his maiden US Open tee time on Thursday (Friday AEST).
"I'm a pretty emotional player so if I do feel good about myself, the game's fun. But when it's a little off, I tend to go off on the emotional side," he said on Tuesday.
"It affects my game a little more than when Minjee is a little down.
"She's very straightforward and doesn't get too worked up so I'd like that, definitely her mindset.
"It's going to be a long week and, if you get to Sunday, you're going to be pretty knackered so when you get time to relax and chill out between shots you do need to do that."
Lee knows Brookline will be a brutal challenge so keeping his head will be critical.
"You're going to miss a fairway, you're going to miss a green," he said.
"It's going to be firmer than what it is now and it's going to be faster.
"The rough is probably going to get thicker so just going into the tournament knowing it's going to be tough and errors are going to happen.
"Take your opportunities when you can but also don't get too riled up about it. It's golf and it's the US Open.
"So I think the person who forgets (the errors) the quickest could win."
Lee has missed the cut in his past three starts since equalling the front-nine scoring record with a sizzling six-under-par 30 in the final round to finish tied 14th at the Masters in April.
But a week working with Minjee and their Perth-based coach Ritchie Smith in Dallas has helped iron out some chinks.
Lee also said shooting a score at Augusta National that not even five-times Masters champion Tiger Woods has ever managed on the outward nine has him believing he can truly contend at the majors.
"It's pretty sick to have that front-nine record," the 23-year-old said.
"It's my first US Open so I really would like to start off good, like I did at the Masters, and keep that going."
Lee is among Australia's seven-strong US Open contingent, headed by world No.6 Cameron Smith along with Adam Scott, Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert, Jed Morgan and successful qualifier Todd Sinnott.
