Min Woo Lee can be the best golfer in the world and win a Masters but he needs to adopt the tireless work ethic of Jason Day to fulfil his potential, according to former Open champion Ian Baker-Finch.
Baker-Finch’s view came as Day also spoke of his role in helping Lee understand the sacrifices and “lifestyle change” required to become the world No.1.
Lee will be one of five Australians in the 95-strong Masters field this year, which begins on Thursday night (AEST) at Augusta National, along with Day, Cam Smith, Cam Davis and 2013 champion Adam Scott.
The 26-year-old is rated by bookies as Australia’s leading chance after winning his first PGA Tour event in Houston two weeks ago, which saw his world ranking climb to a career-high No.22. The WA golfer will tee off in one of the featured groups, alongside two-time major winner Collin Morikawa and former Australian Open champion Joaquin Niemann.
With a huge social media following, Lee is one of the most popular young golfers on the PGA Tour and has a fast-developing cult status. But taking the next step and fulfil his potential by becoming a world No.1 will require the dynamic golfer to put in the hard yards, according to two Aussies with a major win on their CVs.
Min Woo Lee celebrates his first win on the US PGA Tour.Credit: Getty Images
Baker-Finch, who won the 1991 Open Championship and had a career-high rank of world No.10, said he was hugely impressed with Lee’s talent.
“I would love to see Min Woo do well, I love him, but he exasperates me at times. He has so much talent,” Baker-Finch said.
“I have said this before, if he had Jason Day’s work ethic, he would get to No.1 [in the world]. And I am hoping he realises that as he gets a little older. I just see him potentially being No.1 in the world and I would love to see him get there. He has everything you need.
“He has done most things, he has won on the PGA Tour so he has won everywhere, he has represented his country at the Olympics, so he has done almost all you can do at the age of 26. And now, coming in with so much confidence, into the first Major of the year, at a course that suits long hitters and good putters, that’s why he should be thinking – and his team should have him thinking – ‘I can win this’.”
Day, who won the PGA Championship and reached the world No.1 ranking in 2015, has become a mentor of sorts for Lee, after the pair were Olympic teammates in 2024.
Min Woo Lee walking at Augusta National during a practice round.Credit: Getty Images
Speaking to media at Augusta National after playing a practice round with Lee and Cam Smith, Day said he also believed his countryman had the potential to become “our next [world] No.1” but he needed to embrace the hard work required.
“I can tell when guys have that X factor and … potential of standing out. Min is definitely one of those guys,” Day said.
“He hits it a mile. Has really good short game. He does all the sexy stuff good. All the stuff that people love to see, he does that really, really well.”
But the next stage in Lee’s path to the top is mastering shot control around the course, Day said, and embracing the daily grind required to play consistently well.
Min Woo Lee and Cam Smith at Augusta National.Credit: Getty Images
“With Min, it’s all up to him if he wants to get to No.1 and to that next level,” Day said.
“It’s a lifestyle change he has to understand. I know that he has the tools and the mental side to do it because he loves the moment, and that’s something that you cannot teach golfers in general.”
Day said he’d been “feeding” advice to Lee, and pointed to the conversations he’d engineered for his benefit with Australian Olympic team captain and seven-time major winner Karrie Webb.
“Just hearing what she did, how she went about things, her mentality … and rubbing on to Min,” Day said.
“Even though it wasn’t directed towards him, I wanted let it him hear, hey, this is what she did, this is what I did … knowing that it is a lifestyle change. When you want to be No.1 everything has to be in order. Certain sacrifices need to happen.”
It’s not news to Lee, either. After winning in Houston, the popular Australian conceded he’d needed to lift his game after a disappointing 2024 season, and that he had dialled in on improving his game this year.
“There’s a lot of ‘all talk and no show’ and I felt like I kind of got to that stage,” Lee said. “I needed, not a reality check, but a kick in the butt, to get a win or good finish. So I’m glad that happened.”
AUSTRALIAN MASTERS GROUPINGS
* 8.52am (10.52pm, Thursday AEST) – Cameron Smith, JT Poston, Aaron Rai
* 9.47am – (11.47pm, Thursday) Collin Morikawa, Joaquin Niemann, Min Woo Lee
* 9.58am (11.58pm, Thursday) – Phil Mickelsen, Jason Day, Keegan Bradley
* 10.48am (12.48am, Friday) – Cameron Davis, Rafael Campos, Austin Eckroat
* 1.01pm (3.01am, Friday) – Adam Scott, Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland.
with AAP
