Three back of American Austin Eckroat at the start of a final round of the Cognizant Classic that was forced into a Monday finish, Lee made a spirited run at his first TOUR title, at one point pulling within a stroke of Eckroat.

The reigning Australian PGA champion, Lee qualified for his first Signature Event of the season via the Aon Swing 5 that provides spots for the highest points earners from the Mexico Open and Cognizant Classic.

Projected to climb to No.31 in the Official World Golf Ranking, the 25-year-old had finished outside the top 20 in his first three TOUR starts of 2024, after earning his card via 2023 non-member FedEx Cup points.

Can't wait until Australian Story on @ABCaustralia at 8pm? Here's an insight their team has provided on @Minwoo27Lee and @minjeegolf 🏌️🏌️‍♂️https://t.co/wFzlokNBxC

— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) March 4, 2024

It will be Lee’s third consecutive appearance at Bay Hill but the first time it has offered $US20 million in prize money including $US4 million to the winner.

“It’s amazing,” said Lee, who shot 4-under 67 to finish tied at 14-under with Erik Van Rooyen (63), three back of Eckroat (67).

“I was thinking about it coming down the stretch. Obviously thinking about the win… but was a really proud moment.

“My manager Brent signed me up for that yesterday and I saw it on the e-mail. I know he tried to do it on the low, but I did see it come through the e-mail saying that I was signed up for it just in case I do … I knew that before last night that I needed to play like that.”

Lee played “like that” indeed. After completing his first seven holes of the final round Sunday in even-par before darkness fell, he was 4-under across 11 holes Monday.

Featured alongside sister Minjee Lee on the ABC’s Australian Story on Monday night, the result is also a major boost to Lee’s hopes of representing Australia at the Olympics in Paris in early August.

Photo: Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

PGA TOUR
Cognizant Classic
PGA National Resort & Spa (The Champion Cse), Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
1          Austin Eckroat              65-67-68-67—267       $US1.62m
T2        Min Woo Lee                67-70-66-67—270       $801,000
T35      Ryan Fox (NZ)               69-68-74-65—276       $43,875
MC       Aaron Baddeley           71-71—142