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Aussie golf star Min Woo Lee will take a three-shot lead into the weekend at the Australian Open after a stunning seven-under round at The Australian Golf Club on Friday to sit at 11-under for the tournament.
Lee sent the crowd wild with an eagle on the par-5 18th, setting it up with a stunning shot from the pine straw under a tree left of the fairway.
Hitting a 9-iron, Woo stuck it to tap in range, which he duly made to give him a massive momentum boost into the weekend.
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After the round, he said he’d got “a bit lucky” off the tee for the ball to finish where it did and have the lie it did.
“I had a really good number for like a really big 9-iron, and I’ve been hitting draws all week so I kind of set up really nicely,” he said after the round.
“I saw the coverage and it spun left towards the hole and nearly actually went in.
“Really happy with that finish – it’s always nice to make an eagle whenever, but on the last though, it’s even nicer.”
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Lee bogeyed the first – which was playing as the hardest hole on the course, with only one birdie all day – but made birdies on the 4th and the 8th.
But it was on the back nine he came alive, draining four birdies and the eagle.
He took the lead with a birdie on the 16th but had to have two goes at it after he was baulked by commentator Mat Thompson, whose voice was blaring through a TV in a corporate area that was clearly turned up way too high.
He backed off the putt and made a shushing motion, which brought about a laugh from the crowd.
He still sunk the putt.
“While the other boys were putting you could hear the commentary … it was my sister hitting a putt or a chip or something,” he said.
“Then it’s like ‘Min Woo for the outright lead’ and I’m literally about to hit the ball.
“It was a funny moment – I don’t know if they put the TV down lower or whatever, but it worked out.”
Lee said he felt confident in his game, but wouldn’t be drawn on whether he backed himself to double up from his Australian PGA victory last weekend.
“I feel really good, I have a lot of control over my ball, my chipping and putting is unbelievable,” he said.
“Even last week, I didn’t play my approaches that well on the back and I wanted to get a little bit better, and this week I’ve worked with my coach a little bit just to straighten up my path for the shorter clubs.
“I’m always trying to be better, and I’m sure everyone is.”
