HOUSTON April 1, 2025: Australia's Min Woo Lee secured his first PGA Tour title with a one-shot victory at the Houston Open, holding off world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler on the final day.
Lee, who had a four-shot lead after a dazzling 63 in the third round, closed with a 3-under par 67 to finish at 20-under at Memorial Park.
The 26-year-old from Perth battled through pressure from Scheffler, who fired a 63 to finish tied for second alongside Gary Woodland.
“It’s hard, really hard,” Lee said after his win. “Scottie is a wonderful golfer, and he keeps you on your toes. This is my first time leading and trying to hold onto it. I’m glad I got it done, but I’m exhausted.”
Lee, a four-time winner on the European and Asian tours, had been cruising to victory with a three-shot lead and three holes to play, having gone bogey-free through 15. However, he hit a tee shot into the water on the par-five 16th and made bogey.
Scheffler, who had missed an eagle putt on the 16th, made a birdie to pull within one of Lee. Woodland, with an eight-under-par 62, also made a strong push, moving within one shot after a brilliant birdie on 18.
Scheffler, needing a birdie on the 18th to force a playoff, came up short with a par, leaving Lee with a one-shot lead going into the final hole. Despite a challenging tee shot and second shot on 18, Lee sank a brilliant putt to secure the win with a tap-in par.
Finland’s Sami Valimaki finished fourth at 17-under after a course-record 62, while Rory McIlroy, Wyndham Clark, and Taylor Pendrith tied for fifth at 15-under, with McIlroy shooting a six-under 64.