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Queensland’s Aaron Pike has a love for the Launceston Golf Club and the fondness grew even stronger with an opening round of 7-under-par 65 on day one of the 2025 Tasmanian Open.
Pike is a huge fan of the slopy greens at Kings Meadow which leads to precision more than power being the key factor to score low and he had nine birdies on the way to establishing a one-shot lead to take into the weekend.
His nearest challenger is Tasmanian Simon Hawkes, who won his state open nine years ago and produced two eagles in his 66 – a two at the 242m par-4 first and a three at the 508m par-5 10th.
Matias Sanchez and Connor McDade (69) share third while defending men’s champion Alex Edge is six back in a tie for eighth after an opening 71.
Meanwhile, Victorian Grace Yang leads the women’s Open by three shots after starting with an even-par 73 that featured six birdies.
Turning point
Beginning his round from the 10th tee in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series event, Noosa-based Pike was 1-under through his first five holes, including a double-bogey six after hitting a tee shot out of the bounds at the 11th, before he produced a charge with three consecutive birdies on holes 15-17.
Another trifecta came from the first to the third to move the burly Queenslander to 6-under through 12 holes.
Although he bogeyed the par-4 fifth, Pike quickly bounced back by picking up shots on his next two holes.
Quick quotes
Pike said: “The round was a little bit indifferent. I probably got a bit lucky with a couple of drives staying in-bounds but I managed to keep the ball under the hole and holed a lot of putts.
“It’s probably been 20 years since I’ve played here and I don’t remember much of the course. I’m loving it. I love these older style golf courses that we have in Australia and fast, slopy greens which make you think about your putting.
“I really love that you have to think about where you want to position your ball on the green. A 10-footer under the hole can be better than a four or five-footer above the hole.
“You have to play it smart.”
LEADING SCORES
Men
1 Aaron Pike 65
2 Simon Hawkes 66
T3 Connor McDade 69
T3 Matias Sanchez 69
T5 Will Bruyeres 70
T5 Caleb Bovalina 70
T5 Lachlan Aylen 70
Women
1 Grace Yang (a) 73
2 Mackenzie Thomas (a) 76
T3 Riko Danjo (a) 81
T3 Larissa Dobson (a) 81
NEXT UP
Round two of the Tasmanian Open will get underway at 8.30am on Saturday.
The Tailor-made Building Services NT PGA Championship will return to the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia schedule in 2025.
After undergoing significant upgrades to its course and clubhouse, the Palmerston Golf and Country Club will again play host to the Top End’s most prestigious golf tournament from August 28-31.
And for the first time, the final two rounds will be broadcast live.
The Tailor-made Building Services NT PGA Championship was last played in 2023 when NSW professional Daniel Gale shot a sensational final round of 65 to claim the title by four shots over Queensland’s Chris Crabtree.
It was the forerunner to an outstanding year for Gale who went on to finish second on the Challenger PGA Tour Order of Merit to earn playing rights on the DP World Tour for 2024/25.
First played in 1995, the list of former NT PGA champions includes multiple Tour event winners Jordan Zunic, Travis Smyth and hometown favourite Aaron Pike.
This year’s tournament will be the second on the 2025/26 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season following on from the PNG Open at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club on August 14-17.
PGA of Australia General Manager of Tournaments and Global Tour Relationships Nick Dastey said the NT PGA Championship was one of the favourite events of the year for the country’s leading professionals.
“We’re looking forward to getting back to Palmerston Golf and Country Club and seeing the results of all the renovations that have been undertaken there on and off the golf course,” Dastey said.
“The NT PGA Championship has an atmosphere all of its own and its one our players embrace and really look forward to being part of.
“Televising the event for the first time is going to help take the tournament to the next level, giving us the opportunity to really promote the Territory and all the great things to do in the area, including as a golf destination.”
A number of events will take place in the week of the championship, including an intensive juniors clinic with the pros, a junior pro-am, a women’s clinic, a clinic to engage Indigenous children in the sport, and a Wednesday pro-am.
Supported by the Northern Territory Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company, the NT PGA Championship offers a fantastic opportunity for aspiring Territory golfers to witness elite professionals showcase their skills up close.
Palmerston Golf & Country Club General Manager Matt Hewer said: “After the clubhouse underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation and we completed course upgrades specifically to the irrigation systems, this is a great time to showcase not only the event, but the entire NT to a national audience on TV.”
Photo: Reigning Tailor-made Building Services NT PGA champion Daniel Gale
The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia will provide a direct pathway for US-based players in a new Qualifying School initiative to be held in July.
In addition to First Stage and Final Stage of Qualifying School to be held at Moonah Links from April 9-17, the PGA Tour of Australasia will host an additional Final Stage at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, Georgia from July 15-18.
Entries open at 9am Friday AEDT (5pm Thursday in the US) with the field restricted to a maximum of 78 players vying for six spots.
It is the first time that the PGA Tour of Australasia has gone global in providing direct entry to a tour that has proven itself to be a pathway to the DP World Tour, Korn Ferry Tour and eventually the PGA TOUR.
Given the opportunities afforded by the Order of Merit for players to secure major championship starts, DP World Tour cards and further international pathways, the PGA Tour of Australasia has explored ways to entice players from around the world to play in Australia.
“There is growing interest globally in the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia,” said Tour Development Manager for the PGA Tour of Australasia, Kim Felton.
“Our partnerships with international tours have created some great playing opportunities for our players that are appealing to golfers worldwide.
“We believe that hosting a Final Stage of Qualifying School at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club will both create awareness of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia internationally and, ultimately, strengthen the quality of our Tour.
“It was awesome to see Ryggs Johnston win the Australian Open late last year and we hope this drives a few more players down to our great Tour and we see some more international winners.
“Players such as Kazuma Kobori and Ryan Peake have come through Q School the past two years and now have DP World Tour cards. David Micheluzzi, Kazuma Kobori and Elvis Smylie have earned starts in majors from their performances in Australia.
“We are excited to see who enters at Kinderlou Forest and which six players will earn playing rights for the 2025/2026 season with the top spot being exempt into all events, which includes the Australian PGA Championship, the Australian Open and the NZ Open.”
Kinderlou Forest Golf Club, a quality course and well-known as a stern test of golf, hosted the South Georgia Classic on the Korn Ferry Tour between 2007-2014 and has been used as a host venue for Second Stage of PGA TOUR Q School.
The 2024/2025 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season concluded on Sunday with Harrison Crowe’s victory at The National Tournament.
Through their performances during the season, Elvis Smylie, Ryan Peake, and Anthony Quayle have all currently earned DP World Tour exemptions for 2026.
The Greg Norman-designed The Vintage Hunter Valley, nestled in one of Australia’s premier wine regions, will host the Ford NSW Open this year.
No stranger to tournament golf, The Vintage Hunter Valley has hosted the tournament, which is part of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, four times from 2007 to 2010. Like last year, this year’s championship on November 13-16 will carry a minimum purse of $800,000.
Golf NSW CEO Stuart Fraser was thrilled with the decision to return to The Vintage for the first time in over a decade.
“This year’s Ford NSW Open presents a fantastic opportunity for us to ensure the tournament continues to be the most prestigious state championship on the Australian golf calendar,” he said.
“Murray Downs was a fabulous venue for last year’s tournament, and the crowds we saw throughout the week proved how thirsty the public are for elite-level golf.
“The general public of the greater Newcastle and Hunter region has a real love of world-class sport, and we know fans of the game will throw their support behind our flagship event.”
Ripper GC Star Lucas Herbert confirmed his status as one of Australian golf’s best in November last year with a three-shot win over his Ripper GC teammate and 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith, Sydneysider Alex Simpson, and the Hunter’s own Corey Lamb.
“Lucas’ win last year at Murray Downs captured the imagination of fans nationally, while Corey, or ‘Chops’, established himself as a crowd favourite with his quest for the Kel Nalge Cup. Hopefully, we’ll see them battle it out again this November,” Fraser added.
Ford Australia Director of Marketing Ambrose Henderson was excited that Golf NSW is building on the success of the 2024 Ford NSW Open by taking it back to the Hunter Valley region, where Ford has great connections with the local community.
“Since we started our partnership with Golf NSW late last year, we have already seen how golf in regional areas of NSW connects with the local community, and we are proud of the important role Ford and our Ford Dealers play in these communities too.
“The 2025 Ford NSW Open promises to be a spectacular event, with the anticipation of Lucas Herbert’s return to defend his title adding a dynamic edge. It’s thrilling to see such talent continue to grace our tournament, underscoring its prestige in the realm of Australian golf.
“This week we celebrate 100 years of Ford in Australia. As we stride into a new century, partnerships like Golf NSW are vital in our mission to support and uplift local communities through sport.”
Jodie Staples, Director of Sales & Marketing at The Vintage Golf Club, said the organisation was delighted to host the state’s premier golf championship again, adding the opportunity to display to the world what a fantastic destination The Vintage, and indeed the Hunter region, was.
“The Vintage Golf Club is thrilled to host the Ford NSW Men’s Open on our course, and we can’t wait to welcome the players and guests to the Hunter Valley,” she said.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to showcase our beautiful grounds while celebrating the sport we love. We look forward to hosting an incredible event in November.”
PGA of Australia’s General Manager of Tournaments and Global Tour Relationships Nick Dastey noted the Ford NSW Open’s importance on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia schedule and highlighted the excitement of returning to the Hunter Valley region.
“The efforts of Golf NSW to elevate the Ford NSW Open in recent years have been tremendous, and when combining the tournament’s history with the increased prize money, it makes it a highlight of our schedule,” Mr Dastey said.
“Everyone from the players to our staff thoroughly enjoyed Murray Downs in 2024, and I am certain it will be a similar story this year as we return to the Hunter Valley, where the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia has strong ties.”
Tournament Facts:
Host Venue: The Vintage Hunter Valley
Dates: November 13-16, 2025
Prize Fund: AU$800,000 (Min)
Website: www.nswopen.com
Minjee Lee has revealed how she almost missed brother Min Woo’s winning putt on Sunday as she returns to the LPGA Tour for this week’s T-Mobile Match Play in Las Vegas.
Min Woo’s Houston Open win on the weekend made he and Minjee just the third brother-sister duo with wins on both the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour.
Big sister also has two major championships to her name, the pair now within sight of writing a new chapter in golf’s storied history if 26-year-old Min Woo can one day follow suit.
But as Min Woo was trying to hold off world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and a minor case of the shakes, Minjee was mid-air riding every one of her brother’s shots… until she couldn’t.
“It only cut out twice so that was great,” Minjee said of her in-flight viewing.
“It was just before his final putt from off the green. It kind of cut out then and I was like, Oh my God. But I just refreshed it and it worked again, so not too stressed.
“The guy sitting next to me, he was looking at me a little funny because I was fist pumping when he was making birdies and stuff.
“It was a different experience. I’ve not watched golf on a plane before. It was a first time for everything.
“It was quite fun. I really enjoyed it.”
Not only are Minjee and Min Woo the third brother-sister combination with wins on the major US tours but they now both have wins on four of the world’s seven continents.
Minjee has been without a win of her own since October 2023 but has made a bright start to her 2025 campaign.
Runner-up in her last start at the Blue Bay LPGA in China, the 28-year-old looks confident using a broomstick putter and she ranks eighth for final round scoring average (67.75).
Those numbers count for little however in the T-Mobile Match Play format where Lee will first face off against Thai Jasmine Suwannapura in Round 1 and then meet Patty Tavatanakit and Madelene Sagstrom in the remaining Group Stage matches.
Lee is one of five Aussies contesting the Match Play with Grace Kim to play former Gold Coast high schooler Amy Yang in Round 1.
There was little time for celebrating as Steve Allan backs up from his first PGA TOUR Champions as one of eight Aussies in the field for the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational while the Ripper GC boys are back in action at LIV Golf Miami.
Round 1 tee times AEDT
PGA TOUR
Valero Texas Open
TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course), San Antonio, Texas
10:20pm Aaron Baddeley
3:41am Ryan Fox (NZ)
Recent champion: Akshay Bhatia
Past Aussie winners: Joe Kirkwood Snr (1924), Bruce Crampton (1964), Adam Scott (2010), Steven Bowditch (2014)
Prize money: $US9.5m
TV times: Live 10:15pm Thursday, Friday; Live 12am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
LPGA Tour
T-Mobile Match Play
Shadow Creek Golf Course, North Las Vegas, Nevada
Round Robin Day 1
4:25am Grace Kim (Seed: 53) v Amy Yang (12)
4:55am Stephanie Kyriacou (37) v Nasa Hataoka (28)
7:45am Minjee Lee (14) v Jasmine Suwannapura (51)
8:05am Lydia Ko (3) v Hira Naveed (62)
8:15am Gabriela Ruffels (35) v Carlota Ciganda (30)
Recent champion: Nelly Korda
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US2m
TV times: Live 8am Thursday on Fox Sports 503; Live 8am Friday, Saturday on Fox Sports 505; Live 8am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Miami
Trump National Doral, Florida
Australasians in the field: Cameron Smith, Lucas Herbert, Matt Jones, Marc Leishman, Ben Campbell (NZ), Danny Lee (NZ)
Recent champion: Dean Burmester
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US20m
TV times: Live 2am Saturday; Live 1am Sunday; Live 2am Monday on 7 Mate.
Ladies European Tour
Joburg Ladies Open
Modderfontein Golf Club, Johannesburg
5:03pm Kelsey Bennett
8:15pm* Maddison Hinson-Tolchard
9:32pm Momoka Kobori (NZ)
9:43pm* Amelia Garvey (NZ)
Recent champion: Chiara Tamburlini
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €300,000
TV times: Live 9pm Saturday, Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Korn Ferry Tour
Club Car Championship
The Landings Golf & Athletic Club (Deer Creek), Savannah, Georgia
11:10pm Harry Hillier (NZ)
3:35am Rhein Gibson
Recent champion: Steven Fisk
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US1m
TV times: Live 12:30am Friday; Live 11:30pm Friday; 11am Sunday; Live 6:30am Monday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.
PGA TOUR Champions
James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational
The Old Course at Broken Sound, Boca Raton, Florida
Australasians in the field: Steve Allan, Stuart Appleby, David Bransdon, Greg Chalmers, Brendan Jones, Cameron Percy, John Senden, Michael Wright.
Recent champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US2.2m
TV times: Live 1:30am Saturday; 5:30am Sunday; Live 4:30am Monday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.
PGA TOUR Americas
70th Brazil Open
Rio Olympic Golf Course, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
8:20pm Grant Booth
8:40pm* Charlie Hillier (NZ)
Recent champion: Matthew Anderson
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US225,000
Before he won the Texas Children’s Houston Open this past week, it’s fair to say Min Woo Lee didn’t live a life remotely similar to most 26-year-olds from Fremantle.
Despite a constant social media presence and video gaming that helped inspire his “Chef” moniker, Lee’s profession, network of friends and even home base in Las Vegas is vastly different from most Australian 20-somethings.
Yet, even with his jet-setting lifestyle, Lee remains the same personality from his amateur days, and his own reaction to the response over his first PGA TOUR win showcases his ability to stay true to himself.
Among the well-wishers was one of the biggest stars on the planet, Justin Bieber, who Lee claims to be the unofficial golf coach of.
Lee today revealed that the relationship is unique given both feel they are the one to be proud of the friendship.
“The thing is he fanboys kind of over me, but obviously I’m fanboying over him,” Lee said of Bieber.
“We haven’t played (golf) yet, but I got his phone number and we just texted and texted quite often. He would send me videos of his swing and I would critique it and yeah, it’s very cool.”
Proving Lee’s suggestion of the mutual respect over the friendship, it was Bieber who shared an image of their FaceTime following the Aussie’s breakthrough Houston victory to his social media channels.
“He asked me if he could post it and I was like, ‘Bro, do whatever you want. You’re Justin Bieber, I don’t care’,” was Lee’s humorous retelling of how the post came about.
Beyond Bieber, Lee mentioned multiple NBA players among those who congratulated him, including fellow Aussie Josh Giddey and Steph Curry, however, despite their ongoing sibling rivalry, no doubt the support of sister Minjee meant a great deal.
In Las Vegas ahead of this week’s LPGA Tour match play event at Shadow Creek, coincidental timing meant the Lee’s could share a celebratory dinner in Min Woo’s hometown with their shared agent, Brent Hamilton, and coach, Ritchie Smith.
The younger sibling not missing his chance to throw shade at his sister when asked who paid for the Japanese meal on the Vegas ‘Strip’.
“It was me. It was me. Of course it was me. I made a nice little cheque last couple days ago,” Min Woo said. “My sister could have been nice and she could have got it, but it’s all good.”
Family will also be a theme next week for Lee when he contests The Masters for a fourth straight year.
Mum Clara will be on site at Augusta National, where Lee will hope to improve on his already impressive record of T14-MC-T22, with last year’s result perhaps his most impressive giving the preparation.
Unlike this year when he enters the year’s first major as a last start winner, in 2024 Lee teed it up with a broken finger and suffering from illness Monday to Wednesday, a sickness he blames on giving up his jumper to a young fan when watching Minjee in the cold the week prior.
Breaking the digit in the gym, Min Woo plans to be much more careful as he prepares to challenge for his first major title having now accumulated five professional wins in his burgeoning career.
“First of all, obviously just to not drop a dumbbell on your finger. I think that’s priority one. I’ll probably be a bit safer when I’m in the gym right now this week,” he joked of his preparations for Augusta.
“I mean going into it feeling good and yeah, it’s last week felt like an exhausting week, so I just relax and enjoy my time doing nothing really over the last couple days and the next day or so. And yeah, get ready for the big dance.
Adding of his new place as the highest ranked Australian men’s player in the Official World Golf Ranking heading into The Masters: “I mean, it’s crazy. I looked up to these guys and I still do and it’s awesome to be the No.1 ranked Aussie. I still feel like a little kid growing up and I don’t feel 26, I feel 18, 19, 20 as a youngster.
“But there’s youngsters that come out and are very young and you don’t feel as young anymore. But it is very cool. It’s cool to be there. I feel like I inspire kids and inspire people to love and play golf.
“So it’s quite cool to be the top spot, I guess in Australian golf and hopefully I can keep going.”
That attempt to keep going will be alongside major champions Cam Smith, Adam Scott and Jason Day, as well as Cameron Davis in a five-strong Australian contingent at Augusta.
Day continues to do his bit to help Lee become part of the Australian major winner club that his sister is already a member of as a two-time major champion.
“Jason’s been amazing help to me. I think he’s helped me the most out of any player and just advice just in general,” Min Woo said.
“I told him how I felt, really how I felt during THE PLAYERS and I just felt like I wasn’t myself and I was trying to be someone else and he just said just to trust the process and keep hitting good shots and if not, it’s okay.
“And funny, I did that and I won … it’s only love between us and it’s very cool to have a big brother out on Tour.”
The Masters is live and exclusive on Fox Sports, available via Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
After a successful first year for the concept in 2024, Queensland’s Asha Flynn has been awarded this year’s Karrie Webb Coaching Scholarship presented by Nippon Shaft.
Since completing the PGA of Australia Membership Pathway Program (MPP) in 2019, Flynn has been making waves not only in her home state of Queensland, but around the country.
Flynn was twice recognised as the PGA of Australia National Coach of the Year – Game Development in consecutive years (2023 and 2024), and has a significant impact on her regular students at Brisbane Golf Club and the Golf Australia High Performance athletes she mentors.
“I was a big Karrie Webb fan growing up,” Flynn said. “When I got the text message from her the other day saying, ‘Hey Asha, it’s Karrie’ … I was like, ‘Yep, that’s it, I can die happy now’.”
With more work with the Golf Australia High-Performance program on the horizon, like escorting the Australian team to this year’s Annika Invitational in Europe, Flynn is eager to develop her elite coaching through the scholarship.
“I feel like I’ll be able to dedicate more time to the high-performance area and grow my expertise in that,” she said.
“Seeing what the best coaches do at that level when you’re working with those elite high-performance players will be valuable.
“Then I can obviously use that for my own players, but also as a coach myself and see what I can improve on and include.”
Along with the mentoring opportunities, Flynn will also receive $7,500 to help enhance her high-performance coaching skills.
Proud that the coaching scholarship is building a legacy alongside the Karrie Webb Series players scholarship, Webb herself has no doubt this scholarship will enable Flynn to further develop and elevate her skillset through mentoring and shadowing opportunities and exposure to current world-class High-Performance coaches.
“I’m very excited that Asha has been awarded the coaching recipient for this year,” said Webb.
“Asha not only showed how passionate she is to continue to grow as a coach but has also impressed many of her peers in the industry.
“I hope this is a great year of growth for Asha.”
Previous scholars:
2024: Jenna Hunter
Two of Australian golf’s most feted young players delivered the goods when it mattered the most in a memorable week for Aussie golf at home and abroad.
The talent that had never been questioned was paired with a greater work ethic and mental strength to clinch Min Woo Lee his first PGA TOUR win as Harrison Crowe rode the ferocious winds of the Mornington Peninsula to go bogey-free in the final round and win The National Tournament.
The 2022 New South Wales Open champion as an amateur, it marked Crowe’s first win as a professional as Anthony Quayle was rewarded for an ultra-consistent season back on home soil with his best finish of the summer.
Major champions Hannah Green and Jason Day showed promising signs in their return to action as Kirsten Rudgeley closed out her run of events in Australia with a tie for fourth at the World Sand Greens Championship.
10. Harrison Crowe (New)
Re-established his status as a player for the big occasion with a thrilling victory at The National Tournament in Victoria to round out the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season. Completed a sneaky-good season to finish eighth on the Order of Merit with top-10 finishes at the Australian Open, BMW Australian PGA Championship and Ford NSW Open.
9. Kirsten Rudgeley (8)
Tied for second at the Ford Women’s NSW Open, Rudgeley kept the competitive juices flowing with a tie for fourth at the World Sand Greens Championship at Binalong. Is now set up for her third season on the Ladies European Tour where a breakthrough win beckons.
8. Jason Day (6)
Solid return to play after Day was forced to withdraw from THE PLAYERS Championship with a stomach virus. Shot 66 in the final round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open to earn a share of 27th in a nice tune-up two weeks out from The Masters.
7. Anthony Quayle (10)
He described it as the best shot of his life and it will be a contender for shot of the season after Anthony Quayle blistered a 2-iron 215 metres at the 72nd hole for the birdie that clinched outright second at The National Tournament. It also clinched DP World Tour status for 2026 in what was his eighth top-five finish of the season.
6. Elvis Smylie (5)
The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner had the luxury of taking the week off as he sets his sights on a comprehensive campaign on the DP World Tour.
5. Minjee Lee (4)
Embraced the role of cheerleader as little brother wrapped up his maiden PGA TOUR win in Houston. Returns to play this week at the T-Mobile Match Play in Las Vegas.
4. Karl Vilips (2)
It appears to be either feast or famine for Karl Vilips, the Puerto Rico Open winner missing his past three cuts including last week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open.
3. Lucas Herbert (3)
Managed to hold on to third on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit and now has a DP World Tour exemption category available to him at the end of the year should he need it. Has two top fives on LIV Golf this year along with a top 10 at the International Series Macau.
2. Hannah Green (1)
Sharpened her game for the long campaign ahead with a tie for 44th at the Ford Championship, just Green’s fourth tournament of the year. Already boasts two top-seven finishes as she seeks to follow up her three-win 2024 season.
1. Min Woo Lee (7)
The late urging from his manager to tee it up yielded Min Woo Lee’s first PGA TOUR win at the Texas Children’s Houston Open. The four-stroke lead he held at the start of the final round had been eaten into, necessitating a clutch up-and-down from the back fringe to win by one. Now Australia’s highest-ranked male player at No.22 in the world.
The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.
It was a long-awaited PGA TOUR breakthrough for Min Woo Lee and the end to a 23-year drought for Steve Allan in a magnificent weekend for Australian golf in the US.
The 36-hole leader at THE PLAYERS Championship three weeks ago and a two-time runner-up last season, Lee’s status as a PGA TOUR winner was always a matter of when, not if.
That time is now after he produced two nerveless up-and-downs on the final two holes to complete a one-stroke victory at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
A four-stroke leader at the start of the final day, Lee (67) held off charges from major winners Scottie Scheffler (63) and Gary Woodland (62) for his first win on US soil as a professional.
“Winning a tournament was one of those goals and I’m happy to check that off,” said Lee.
“It was tough. I mean, props to the guys that win week in, week out. I mean, it is very hard even though a four-shot lead is not safe, it is tough.
“Just so proud. Let’s keep doing it.”
The 2002 Australian Open champion, Allan has had to wait more than two decades to re-enter the winner’s circle.
Only a late admission into the field for the Galleri Classic when Steve Stricker withdrew on Monday, Allan took advantage in the best way possible.
Buoyed by a swing tip on the range from close friend Cameron Percy, a superb outward nine of 5-under 31 put Allan in prime position, an even-par back nine enough to close out a round of 5-under 67 and a one-stroke win from American Tag Ridings (67).
“I won the Australian Open in 2002 and it was my second year, four years after my first win,” Allan recalled.
“I told my girlfriend, now my wife, ‘It won’t be four years until I win again.’ Unfortunately, it’s been 23 years.
“It’s a big relief to get a win. I was close on the PGA TOUR a couple of times. Didn’t get over the line.
“Once it was completely my fault. The other time Kenny Perry had a hot finish and I didn’t.
“It was really good to hang in there and finish it off.”
Results
PGA TOUR
Texas Children’s Houston Open
Memorial Park Golf Course, Houston, Texas
1 Min Woo Lee 66-64-63-67—260 $US1.71m
T15 Ryan Fox (NZ) 68-65-65-71—269 $163,875
T27 Jason Day 70-66-69-66—271 $67,925
MC Karl Vilips 68-73—141
MC Aaron Baddeley 70-74—144
LPGA Tour
Ford Championship
Whirlwind Golf Club (Cattail Cse), Chandler, Arizona
T6 Lydia Ko (NZ) 68-67-68-67—270
T13 Stephanie Kyriacou 67-68-69-68—272
T27 Cassie Porter 70-68-67-70—275
T44 Hannah Green 68-72-68-70—278
T62 Sarah Kemp 70-70-74-69—283
T64 Hira Naveed 71-67-75-71—284
MC Gabriela Ruffels 73-68—141
MC Karis Davidson 71-70—141
MC Grace Kim 72-71—143
MC Fiona Xu (NZ) 73-71—144
DP World Tour
Hero Indian Open
DLF G&CC, New Delhi, India
1 Eugenio Chacarra 70-70-73-71—284 €354,641.38
T31 Jason Scrivener 72-77-73-76—298 €15,576.41
T63 Daniel Gale 76-74-80-78—308 €5,423.93
MC Austin Bautista 76-76—152
MC Cameron John 83-72—155
MC Matthew Griffin 80-82—162
MC Lachlan Barker 82-83—165
PGA TOUR Champions
The Galleri Classic
Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California
1 Steve Allan 69-65-67—201 $US330,000
T3 Steven Alker (NZ) 71-65-67—203 $131,867
6 Cameron Percy 67-69-68—204 $88,000
T7 Stuart Appleby 70-71-64—205 $70,400
T7 Richard Green 68-72-65—205 $70,400
T15 Mark Hensby 71-69-68—208 $36,300
T29 David Bransdon 72-69-70—211 $15,934
T36 Rod Pampling 71-72-69—212 $12,144
T51 Greg Chalmers 73-72-70—215 $5,940
T54 Scott Barr 73-73-70—216 $4,510
T66 Brendan Jones 74-72-73—219 $2,253
PGA TOUR Americas
93 Abierto Telecom del Centro
Cordoba Golf Club, Cordoba, Argentina
1 Ryan Grider 65-66-68-69—268
T8 Grant Booth 70-67-64-70—271
MC Charlie Hillier (NZ) 73-69—142
Min Woo Lee’s PGA TOUR destiny has ben fulfilled after the West Australian held off world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and major champion Gary Woodland to win the Texas Children’s Houston Open by one stroke.
Feted as the most exciting prospect in Australian men’s golf since his early teenage years, Lee clinched his first PGA TOUR title in a pulsating finish at Memorial Park Golf Course.
He becomes the eighth Australian to win the Houston Open, his victory adding to three DP World Tour titles including the 2023 Australian PGA Championship.
Four strokes clear at the start of the final round, the 26-year-old went out in 2-under as Woodland first ate into the deficit and then Scheffler came with a late charge.
With Woodland first in the clubhouse at 19-under thanks in no small part to an eagle at 16 and birdie on 18, Scheffler applied further pressure with four straight birdies from the 13th hole.
When Lee hit his tee shot into the water on the way to a bogey at the par-5 16th, the lead had shrunk to just one with two holes left to play.
He two-putted from the fringe for par at the par-4 17th and was faced with another long putt from just off the green at the 72nd hole, Lee showing remarkable composure to putt down to inside a foot from 54 feet away.
Ever the showman, Lee then pretended to go through an AimPoint routine by straddling the line of his eight-inch putt, struggling to hold back tears as he tapped in to complete an ascension in world golf that shows no signs of slowing.
“They always say the six inches between your ears, I think that was a big part of this week,” Lee said of the mental capacity it takes to win on the PGA TOUR.
“I always felt like I had the assets to win, it was just can you do it mentally.
“Obviously a couple slip-ups, especially on 16, the drive. Played very wonderful golf all week and really, really solid.
“I only won by one, so it’s tough. Keep doing what I’m doing. These guys that win, they’re mentally strong.
“It was one of those where I think just everything aligned this week.
“I’m so proud to be the winner of the trophy.”
Photo: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
