Min Woo Lee only gained special temporary membership of the PGA Tour in May and has made the absolute most of it, pocketing more than $2.2m in the last month after another top-10 finish at the $30m Travellers Championship.
The 24-year-old rising star earnt a spot in the elevated event courtesy of his tie for fifth at the US Open, making his way to Connecticut via a lift in countryman Adam Scott’s plane, and finished in a tie for ninth.
Watch every round of the PGA Tour LIVE & Exclusive on Fox Sports, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
A two-time winner on the DP World Tour already, Lee, the brother of two-time major champion Minjee, who faded to finish in a tie for 20th at the PGA Championship, is not only outplaying his superstar sister but making an impact on the tour where he’s made it clear he wants to spend more time.
Europe is next on his agenda, however, with the British Masters this week part of his preparation for the British Open at Royal Liverpool, where Lee will play his ninth straight major as his star continues to rise.
Lee thrust himself in to the spotlight at The Players Championship in May, playing in the final group in the final round and held on to finish in a tie for sixth in the pressure-cooker environment.
It also secured his first $1m payday, and then his barnstorming finish at the US Open delivered Lee a second one.
After collecting another $780,000 at the Travellers Championship, won by Keegan Bradley, Lee’s 2023 season prizemoney haul is close to $3.5m.
Jason Day, Adam Scott and Cam Davis are the only Australians on the PGA Tour to have won more than Lee, who loves more than just the massive prizemoney on offer in the US.
“I love America, so it’s nice and easy. If you want something, it’s Amazon Prime right there, you get it in a day,” he said, having also become something of a cult hero with his thin moustache and massive bombs off the tee.
“It’s always nice to play in America, and getting a fan base over here it’s awesome. Even at 7.00, 6.45 in the morning there were guys screaming … well, not screaming but shouting my name and slogans, so it’s awesome.”
Lee is yet to secure full-time playing rights, but sitting inside the top 70 on the prizemoney list puts him in prime position to make that happen,
Herbert, who has played 14 events, picked up his second biggest cheque of the season, just over $500,000 for finishing in a tie for 15th at The Travellers but has not had the same success as his younger compatriot.
It was, however, a timely return to form for the Victorian who has struggled for consistency in his second full year on the PGA Tour and heads to Europe to prepare for the British Open having had success there.
“It‘s kind of a tale of like two different tours. I’m playing great in Europe and had a garbage season on the PGA Tour,” Herbert said at the Travellers.
“I’m 150 odd on the FedExCup and not even close to where I want to be. It’s been tough to sort of deal with that and just managing my emotions and expectations.
“But it‘s just a new challenge of the PGA Tour. This is my second full season … just a new challenge of figuring out how to play out here, how to beat these guys, play these golf courses better than them.
“And I think when I do get better results it‘s going to feel even better because I have gone through this struggle.”
AUSSIE PGA TOUR PRIZE MONEY LEADERS THIS SEASON
Jason Day – $8.5m
Cam Davis – $4.1m
Adam Scott – $4m
Min Woo Lee – $3.4m
Lucas Herbert – $1.5m
