HOUSTON –

In an exhilarating finish at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, Min Woo Lee maintained his composure against incredible late challenges from seasoned golfers Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland to clinch his first PGA Tour title on Sunday. Lee’s stunning 55-foot putt on the 18th hole left him with a simple tap-in par, finishing with a 3-under 67 for a remarkable total of 20-under 260, surpassing the tournament record by a remarkable four shots.

“It’s hard — it’s really hard,” Lee expressed, clearly overwhelmed with emotion. “Obviously, Scottie is a wonderful golfer and he keeps you on your toes. This was my first time being in front, and I’m glad I got it done. I’m very exhausted; it was a lot of mental grind. I’m proud of how I handled myself.”

As the competition heated up, Lee initially enjoyed a comfortable lead of five shots until his performance took a tough turn. After slicing his tee shot on the par-5 16th into the water, Lee faced a tough situation but managed to salvage a bogey with a solid two-putt from 40 feet. His leading margin was tightened to just one shot with two holes remaining.

The last holes saw Woodland, who nearly stole the show with a blazing finish scoring 4-under par in the last four holes, ending his day with a stellar 62. Meanwhile, Scheffler kicked off a series of four consecutive birdies, only to falter on the final hole with a 7-iron that fell short. He conceded par after a solid chip, wrapping up his round with a score of 63.

As Lee struck his final shots, Woodland could only watch anxiously from the range. Remarkably, this tournament marked Woodland's best finish since his brain surgery in September 2023, making his runner-up performance particularly significant for the former U.S. Open champion.

In the scoring area, Scheffler acknowledged the pressure he attempted to place on Lee. “I was just trying to put as much pressure on Min Woo as I could,” he shared. “He played some really good golf and just went out and beat us this week.”

At just 26 years old, Lee joins the ranks of elite golfers, having previously logged wins on the European and Asian Tours. His victory in Houston marks him as the fifth player in 2023 to claim a first PGA Tour title, solidifying his status ahead of upcoming major tournaments.

Among other notable performances, Finnish golfer Sami Valimaki matched the tournament record with a score of 62, finishing in fourth place, while Rory McIlroy ended with a round of 64, tying for fifth as he prepared for the Masters.

Meanwhile, the nail-biting race for Masters qualification unfolded for Michael Kim and Ben Griffin, with Kim clinching a critical par on his final hole to secure a ranking that pushes him into the top 50 by the narrowest of margins over Griffin.

Having already qualified for the Masters due to his top 50 placement last year, Lee’s championship win now sets him up strategically for the remaining $20 million signature events this season.

“Everyone out here knows how talented the kid is. He’s an absolute stud,” Woodland praised. “Once you break through, the sky’s the limit. I’m really happy for him; for me, it was great just to see some results and feel those competitive juices flowing again.”

As Min Woo Lee basks in this significant achievement, golf enthusiasts are left eagerly anticipating his next moves on the PGA Tour. Will he continue to rise through the ranks? The golfing world watches closely.