The “Kick in the Butt” which transformed Min Woo Lee from the social media star to the male golfist n. 1 in Australia

He took the account as a small gesture of his gratitude.

“Of course I was me (paying). I made a nice small check (a) a couple of days ago,” said Lee.

Lee had threatened to break through a victory on the PGA Tour for some time.

He had shot six records of six on par at the nine front in Augusta on the last day of his first US master’s degree in 2022, closed in fifth place in the US Open of 2023, ranked in two US tournaments in 2024, won the Australian PGA and the Scottish Open that year.

But leading to Houston Open, he was aware that the almost missed could not continue too long. In mid -March he had led the players’ championship – a tournament known as the fifth major – halfway before a third round horror round he saw him fall from the dispute, ending up ending up 20th place. He was aware that Knockers was starting to find a voice.

“That’s why people do not (they are looking for a high profile) because there is a (possibility that it is everything), but no show and I felt like I had come to that stage in which there was a lot of talk but not the best golf I can do,” Lee said.

“I think I need, not of a control of reality, but a kick in the butt only to get a victory or get an excellent ending. So I’m glad it happened.”

Lee’s speed through the ball, skilled game and putting skill had turned his head but entering a reputation in 2025 to be inconsistent. His way of doing in style sometimes falter through a poor decision or a crazy brave iron shot.

He was not afraid of hard work, but finding the steel he needed to keep things together in 72 holes remained a challenge.

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He approached the colleague Golf player of the PGA Tour and the great winner Jason Day, who according to him was like a older brother on tour, for a chat.

“I told him how I felt during the players (championship),” said Lee.

“I wasn’t myself and I was trying to be someone else.

“He just said he trusted the trial and continue to hit good shots and, otherwise, that’s okay.”

That conversation helped as the work with his team during the week to make sure he was mentally prepared for the challenges to come.

“Something pointed out to me in my head, then … many winners are very blocked and concentrated, it concentrated on the laser. It is something I learned in the last week,” said Lee.

That grit was essential when he found himself in the water in the sixteenth hole with Scottie Scheffler who was breathing on the neck playing in the front group.

Lee climbed to make Bogey and took the advice from his expert Caddy Brian “Bo” Martin, who this year began transporting the Lee bag, to remember that he was playing solid golf. Once Lee said that talking to Martin was “how to talk to Yoda”. The caddy had spoken to him from a risky shot on 8 when his ball landed under a tree in an inhabilitable position.

It meant he needed two pars in the last two holes to win his first PGA tournament. He admitted that he could spiral at that moment.

“I just took a while. Not that I was going out of my mind, but it could have been strange, very strange,” said Lee.

He concentrated hard until he made a memorable Putt from the green that left him with a tap-in on the 18th to win. It was only then that he allowed his natural humor to shine.

He took the position of Aim Point above the ball, drawing an ironic laugh by Scheffler, who was looking at the score of the golf fans in the score and admiration to which his cheek liked.

It was only his 104th Putt in 72 holes, a sign that his short game was in singing and had checked his irons to say that many fairway was missing he hit.

The cheek is natural, not part of an orchestrated marketing campaign designed to build its brand. Having grown up with social media and with a talent for a joke, his motivation was to have fun rather than being commercial.

It can be seen in the self-deprecating post immediately after his victory in which he returns from a list of his nicknames: Chef, Woozy, dr. Chipinski, Spinny Wazley, Lob Macingyre, Jacuzzi Woozy, Woo Woo Limone, min now could add Win Moo Lee to the list.

It can be seen in the chef’s hats worn on the route and fans who shout the phrase “leave him cooking”, who is now synonymous with him while heading towards his fourth US master as the highest Australian level in the world at n. 22.

Augusta is its favorite course. In three apparitions, he lost the cut only once, ending 14th in 2022 and 22 last year.

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A sign of passage was given for that performance since he had dropped a handlebar on his finger in his head, clinking at home with a better 69 staff on the last day.

“All the advice you receive from other veterans who go there are not too much.

Next to the former winner Adam Scott, Day, Open Vinciner Cam Smith and Cam Davis, it will be Lee who will dominate attention. “I feel like I was inspired by children and inspire people to love and play golf. So it’s quite nice to be in first place in the Australian golf and, I hope, I can go on.”

Let it cook it.