Hillier and Smylie close to lead in China


Daniel Hillier – file image courtesy of Photosport / NZ Open 

New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier and Australian Elvis Smylie have both staked claims for a second DP World Tour title near the halfway mark of the Hainan Classic on the resort island of Hainan off the southern coast of China.

Hillier completed a second round of 70 to be in a share of second place and just two off the lead in the weather, then darkness affected event, while Smylie, who will finish his second round on Saturday morning, is  tied with Hillier although he has four holes remaining to potentially challenge for the halfway lead.

Hillier won his first DP World Tour event when he was successful at the British Masters in 2023, while Smylie, who topped the recently completed PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, won the Australian PGA Championship late last year.

Hillier has continued to play consistently, making his last 16 cuts in DP World Tour events and in the New Zealand Open those performances including a runner-up finish at the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year.

After winning the Australian PGA Championship, Smylie finished 5th at the Australian Open and played well enough for the remainder of the Australasian Tour to consolidate his position at the top of the Order of Merit. He finished 15th in last week’s China Open.

This week’s event carries a total purse of US$2.25 million.

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Rory McIlroy joins the greats in stunning final day at Augusta National


Oh the relief – McIlroy realises a dream – image courtesy of the Masters Tournament 

In one of the greatest days of Masters history and arguably one of the greatest in the history of golf, Rory McIlroy put to bed any of the demons and intense scrutiny and pressure that has plagued him over the last 11 years since his last major title with a playoff victory over Justin Rose.

McIlroy becomes the 6th male player in the history of the game to win the career Grand Slam, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as golfers to have won all four of the game’s major titles.

McIlroy took a two-shot lead over De Chambeau into day four, but by the second hole the lead had gone with a double bogey at the first and a par at the second, allowing De Chambeau to take the lead.

McIlroy’s round was littered with brilliance and mistakes, his costly start overcome almost immediately by birdies at the 3rd and 4th holes to regain the lead by three after bogeys by De Chambeau at those same holes.

Birdies at the 9th and 10th had him ahead by four but while DeChambeau would begin to drop away challenges came from Justin Rose and Ludvig Alberg. After a messy run through holes 13 and 14, where he dropped 3 shots to briefly lose the outright lead, it would be two outstanding iron shots to the 15th and 17th that kept the dream alive for McIlroy.

After his drive at the 15th finished a little further left than ideal, his curving 7iron to 5 feet set up an eagle chance. Although unable to convert, he would par the 16th before a superb 9 iron at the 17th set up a birdie and appeared to open the door to victory.

Then came a final bogey at the last after missing the green from the middle of the fairway with a gap wedge but he would then hit his approach at the first extra hole against Rose to just over 2 feet and he would make after Rose missed his 12 footer from behind the hole.

“It feels incredible,” said McIlory in the presentation ceremony. “This is my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time. I think the last 10 years coming here with the burden of the Grand Slam on my shoulders and trying to achieve that, yeah, I’m sort of wondering what we’re all going to talk about going into next year’s Masters.

“But I’m just absolutely honoured and thrilled and just so proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion.

“I was really nervous going out. It was almost as if the double bogey at the 1st calmed my nerves a little bit and sort of got me into it in a funny way.

“I just think all week how I responded to setbacks, I think that’s what I’ll take from this week. Couldn’t be more proud I myself for that and being able to back bounce when I needed to.”

McIlroy’s reaction after the winning putt dropped told the story of the immense pressure and at times unnecessary criticism he has worn since his last major victory at the PGA Championship in 2014.

There are a lot of Monday morning quarterbacks singing his praises today, many of those prepared to knock him for his inability to get across the line but they have conveniently forgotten the many great titles aside from majors in the meantime that McIlory has won and his amazing success on the PGA Tour where he is second only to Tiger Woods in career money.

This victory could well open the floodgates for McIlroy, who has clearly felt the pressure of winning the Masters and completing the Grand Slam. With that burden relieved, it could well make his free-wheeling game even more so, and surely, another major title in 2025 is well within his reach. Imagine the reception if one of those was to come at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush in his homeland of Northern Ireland in July.

Justin Rose was also chasing a first Green Jacket and was outstanding in his comeback from a seven-shot opening deficit. Rose’s ten birdie round of 66 included a 30 footer across the green at the last to get within one, and when McIlroy then bogeyed the last, it was off to the playoff.

“Today was an unbelievable round of golf, said Rose. “This weekend, in fact, if I look back at yesterday, played unbelievable golf yesterday and just putter went stone cold on me, and then today just really began to feel that confidence come back with the putter, which is unbelievable.

“10 birdies on a golf course I thought was playing quite tricky, greens were firm and crusty, but with that came a few mistakes here and there.

“But listen, to make the putt on 18, the one you dream about as a kid, to obviously give myself an opportunity and a chance was an unbelievable feeling. Obviously I’ve been in this position before, 2017. It’s definitely tough, but I bounced back pretty well from that, too. Went on to be World No. 1 after that so I used it to my advantage.

“Last two majors I’ve played I’ve come up in second place, but it’s exactly what I’m trying to do with my career at this stage, and it’s more evidence that I’m doing some really good work.”

Jason Day threatened to get in the mix on occasions during the final day reaching 2 under for the day and 7 under for the tournament  through nine holes. Bogeys at his final two holes however, would cost him a place in the top ten, eventually finishing tied for 8th.

It was however, Day’s best finish in a major since finishing runner-up at the 20023 Open Championship and there were plenty of signs that his game is very close to where it needs to be.

“I’m pretty gutted right now,” said Day. “It’s annoying to give myself the opportunities out there and not be able to take them. I mean, it’s a step in the right direction. That’s all I can say. It’s hard to walk off the golf course and go straight into an interview even though — I’m pretty headless right now.

“I understand. It is what it is. We should be able to be professional enough to hold our — at least keep our cool. It’s just really hard when you’ve just walked off the golf course, and you’re pretty furious with how you played, especially at the end.

“Like I said before, it’s like when I sit down and digest it all, I think it’s a good positive step in the right direction. Just a few minor tweaks here and there and a few more putts go in, it might be a different story this week.

“I’ve got to just take the positives when I sit down and think about how the week went.”

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Jason Day in action today – image the Masters Tournament.

 

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Juicy Final day showdown in prospect at Augusta National

McIlroy in action on day three – image courtesy of the Masters Tournament

Tomorrow’s final round of the 2025 Masters Tournament promises to be one of the more fascinating in recent times.

Rory McIlroy and Bryson De Chambeau will face off in what promises to be a juicy battle, especially given McIlroy’s gut-wrenching loss at last year’s US Open where he fell victim to a late demise of his own and a brilliant finish by DeChambeau.

McIlroy leads DeChambeau by two after their respective rounds of 66 and 69 on day three, DeChambeau’s 40-foot cross-green putt at the last reducing what had been a four-shot McIlroy lead he enjoyed through 15 holes to a much more manageable two.

Admittedly, they are not the only figures in an intriguing final day as a total of seven other players are within seven shots of the lead and within 5 of the second placed DeChambeau and with the leading pair playing together they need to ensure they do not get too wrapped up in a one on one battle.

McIlory suggested as much when asked the question of a supposed rematch from Pinehurst last June, indicating his focus tomorrow will be on staying in his own little bubble and not allowing extraneous hype to impact him.

Today, McIlroy opened with six straight 3’s to move two ahead after beginning his round two behind the 54 hole leader Justin Rose. A messy bogey at the reachable par 5 8th was followed by a perhaps wrong club at the 10th leading to a 3 putt bogey and the lead was just one over De Chambeau.

The key moment of the round, however, would come at the par 5 15th when McIlroy’s 6 iron second shot finished 7 feet from the hole and when that was converted for eagle the margin was four before DeChambeau’s strong finish.

“It was such a great way to start,” said McIlory referring to his hot start to the round. “You know, just to come out of the blocks like that, I think, as well, from finishing yesterday afternoon to teeing off today, it’s quite a long time. You know, there’s a lot of anticipation and sort of anxious energy that builds up. You just want to get out there and play.

“So you know, with all of that, to go out and start the way I did, was amazing.

“And then I had that a little bit of a wobble around the turn there with the bogey on 8, the missed chance on 9 and then the three-putt on 10. I thought that the par putt on 11 was huge, just to sort of get some momentum back.

“To get through 11 and 12 at even par was great. And then, you know, all I was trying to do then was take advantage of the par 5s coming in, and thankfully I was able to do that.”

McIlroy is very much aware that the job is not done.

“I think I still have to remind myself that there’s a long way to go, just like I said yesterday, 18 holes. I, just as much as anyone else, know what can happen on the final day here.

“You know, I’ve got a lot of experience. I came in here talking about being the most complete version of myself as a golfer, and you know, I just have to keep reminding myself of that and remind myself that no matter what situation or scenario I find myself in tomorrow, I’ll be able to handle it.”

Jason Day moved himself into contention when he got within three shots of McIlroy at one stage but he was unable to finish as strongly as he needed to in order to be a serious consideration tomorrow. A very low round might put him in the mix but he would need help from McIlroy, DeChambeau and others.

Day is at 5 under and in a share of 6th place with Scottie Scheffler, Justin Rose and Shane Lowry and is well placed to record his best finish at Augusta National since his 5th place in 2019.

Min Woo Lee struggled to a round of 77, his plight made worse by a penalty shot for a ball moving on the 13th fairway, deemed to have been caused by him.

Lee is now in a share of 48th place.

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Jason Day hits his approach at the 11th hole today – image courtesy of the Masters Tournament

 

 

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Jason Day on edge of Masters contention

Jason Day – during day two – image courtesy of Augusta National

Jason Day’s second consecutive round of 70 has him in a share of 9th place and four off the lead held by Justin Rose at the completion of 36 holes at the Masters Tournament.

Day progressed nicely through the opening nine holes to be 3 under for the day and 5 under for the tournament and although he continued to make pars through the back nine he was unable to convert several opportunities before a pulled drive at the last led to a bogey.

Day was frustrated at the number of opportunities he missed and suggested he would work on that after his round today.

“I feel like I’ve been very patient with myself out there,” said Day. “Yeah, I just need some putts to go in.

“I think overall I’m hitting really good putts. I’m just going to kind of work on that this afternoon.

“This golf course, it can frustrate you. It’s a funny golf course because where they put the pin locations, if you’re leaving yourself 30 to 35 feet, very rarely do you hit it very close. You’re always leaving yourself two, three, four-footers, and that can be very frustrating because you’re going to go through your process again and try and hole the putt, and that’s why you feel mentally fatigued getting off the golf course at the end of the day, just where they place the pin locations.

“But when you’re missing putts and giving yourself opportunities, it is what it is. I feel like the stats will soon kind of turn for me, and hopefully it’s this weekend.

“I feel like I’m playing very nicely. I just don’t get — we’ve got 36 holes left, so there’s a lot of golf to be played. If I can get myself rolling the way that I feel like I can, then I feel like I can get myself into contention.”

Min Woo Lee bounced back from a horror double bogey at the first to be 1 under through 15 holes and although a bogey at the last hurt, his round of 72 has him in a share of 22nd and seven shots from the lead.

Cameron Smith and Adam Scott both missed the cut, Smith’s perhaps more of a surprise, given his recent record at Augusta National. A round of 78 left him three shots from the cut line.

Scott improved significantly on his opening round 77 for an even par 72 but will miss the cut for the first time since 2009.

Cam Davis stumbled to a second round of 79 to miss the weekend by seven shots and for the first time in three appearances in the event.

The leader Rose was out early and added a round of 71 to move to 8 under and now sits atop the leaderboard and one ahead of Bryson De Chambeau with Rory McIlroy and Corey Conners another shot back.

McIlroy bounced back from the disappointment of two late double bogeys on Thursday and finds himself very much in contention for what would be the completion of his own career Grand Slam.

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New Zealand’s Cooper Moore claims Australian Junior title


Cooper Moore – file image courtesy PGA of Australia

Christchurch golfer and exciting future prospect for New Zealand golf, Cooper Moore, has today won the Australian Junior Title, Moore holing a bunker shot at the third extra hole of a playoff against Dubbo’s Cooper Giddings at the Indooroopilly Golf Club in Brisbane to add this title to his recent success at the New Zealand Amateur Championship.

Moore began the final round six shots adrift of Brisbane’s Chase Oberle, but a homeward nine of 33 saw him force a playoff against Gidding’s whose brilliant final round of 65 saw him set the mark for Moore who was playing more than 30 minutes behind.

Giddings had played the final three holes in four under par for his final nine of 30 but when Moore played the final nine in 33 himself the pair were tied at 5 under.

Moore has been in excellent form of late, finishing runner-up in Charles Tour events in New Zealand in addition to his New Zealand Amateur Championship win and finishing as the leading Australasian at the prestigious Asia Pacific Amateur Championship late in 2024.

The victory this week should assure the 16-year-old from the Clearwater Golf Club in Christchurch of a start at the Australian Open, and so the opportunities continue to open for the exciting youngster.

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Day heads Australians after day one at Augusta National

Jason Day in action on day one – image courtesy of  The Masters Tournament

The five Australians at this year’s Masters have experienced mixed results during round one at Augusta National Jason Day, Cam Smith and Min Woo Lee, making encouraging starts to be under par on a day where scoring apart from the effort of the leader Justin Rose appeared difficult.

Day is at 2 under par and in a share of the place, although five shots off Rose’s lead and despite an afternoon tee time on day two he is well enough placed to move into contention heading into the weekend.

“Today it was good,” said Day pleased with his effort. “I had a really good strategy out there. I think I didn’t get myself out of position too bad, and then when I did get myself out of position, I had a relatively easy up-and-down. Unfortunately, I just missed a few too many opportunities for birdies.

“But sitting at 2-under right now in fifth place (he finished in 7th place), I’m pretty happy with it.”

“The funny thing about Augusta is it’s very, very easy to psych yourself out, depending on how the course is. You know that the progression of play from day-to-day gradually usually gets harder.”

“I feel like I’m definitely coming in under the radar. I’m not to the point of how Scottie has been playing, how Rory has been playing, some of the other guys. I feel very just comfortable with where my game is at right now. I’ve just got to do some work on the greens. Hopefully some more putts drop.”

Min Woo Lee was out early and finished with a round of 71 to be sharing 11th place and after an opening bogey where he drove it in the trees, was long with his second and failed to save par when narrowly missing a ten-footer, he added two birdies.

“It’s a tough golf course today,” said Lee after his round. “It was a tough golf course. Yeah, very happy with 1-under. Obviously could have had a couple more, but again, tricky pins, and I played very solid. So that’s a plus.”

As Australia’s number one ranked male golfer, Lee is delighted to have achieved that mantle, but he knows there is a lot more to success than that.

“Yeah, no, one day I dreamt of that, so I’m here now. It is a very cool feeling. I still feel like a kid. I always say that, but I still feel like a kid and I look up to Jason and Scotty up there in the rankings.

“So yeah, it’s quite nice I guess to see that ranking, but we’re looking further than that.

“I mean, it’s good. It’s great. I’ve been trying to get to World No. 1. It’s still a quest. Just want to keep playing well and putting myself in contention.”

In this event last year Lee was restricted by a cold and recovering from a broken finger but was asked where he feels he is at compared to this time last year, especially given his recent PGA Tour event breakthrough.

“I had a lot of confidence, obviously, coming into this week, but then last year I had no expectations because I had a broken finger so I was kind of just go out there and play.

“I think I was like 4-over through 7 and I was like, yep, that’s pretty much a broken finger and a cold. But I managed to actually play really good after that and come 22nd.

“Yeah, I think in a way, very similar. I felt really good in different ways. But yeah, I was very cautious when I was in the gym last week.”

Cam Smith’s record at Augusta National is superb but he arrived off the back of an indifferent season to date so his start sets him up well for the next few days.

“It’s been a bit scrappy with the irons, said the former world number 2. “The driver felt all right. Just couldn’t quite see the shots out there and couldn’t quite commit.

“It was a really good scramble. I think I hit a couple of greens on the front nine and maybe three or four on the back. There was still plenty of good in there. The wedges felt great. The putter felt great. Even the driver felt great.

“Like I said, I was in some good spots and didn’t really make the most of it.

“I haven’t left myself too much work. For how I felt out there, it felt like it was going to be a bit of a long day. All in all, pretty pleased with the score. If I’m going to win this thing, I definitely need to do better than that. Golf is such a weird game.

“I feel like my last round last week at Doral was probably the best I’ve hit it in a long time, and coming out here today is probably the worst I’ve hit it in a long time.

“It’s just such a weird game sometimes. I felt really good at the start of the week, just a little bit of cleanup on the range, and we’ll be good.”

Cam Davis (74) and Adam Scott (77) have work to do if they are to be around for the weekend, the cut appearing at this stage as if it will be around 4 over or perhaps even 5 if the expected stronger winds arrive on day two.

Justin Rose is the talk of day one, however. The 44-year-old former US Open champion and twice a runner-up in this particular event took control of day one with six birdies in his first 10 holes and added two more before a bogey at the last after driving it into the trees. He leads by three over Corey Connors, Scottie Scheffler and Ludvig Aberg.

For a record fifth time, Rose holds at least a share of the first-round lead at the Masters, having done that in 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2021. He previously shared the record with Jack Nicklaus.

“Yeah, obviously delighted to get off to such a great start, and that start definitely, it happened out of the gates. So for the first few holes everything was going exactly where I was looking.

And certainly the first hole, which is definitely one of the trickier holes on the golf course, to knock in a nice 25-footer down the hill right-to-left, exactly what you need to settle yourself into the Masters, and then 2 and 3 are birdie opportunities.

“So to be 3-under through 3 kind of really got me on the front foot and felt like I was playing great golf. When I did find myself into in a little bit of trouble, especially early, No. 5, holed a great putt for par. And middle of the back nine I felt like there were a couple moments where the momentum could have changed. But really good up-and-downs on 14 and 15 to keep the round really hot.

“Obviously the only blemish on 18, but there’s no point dwelling on that. “It was a really good day’s golf on a golf course that was a stern test. I think if you look at the overall leaderboard, not many low scores out there. You had to hit a lot of quality shots, and delighted the way I played.”

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Thoughts on the 2025 Masters


The 13th hole brings Amen Corner to an end – image Masters Tournament 

The opening major of 2005 gets underway this Thursday with the Masters taking the focus of not only the golfing world but the sporting world generally.

Five Australians are in the field headed in terms of world ranking by recent Houston Open winner, Min Woo Lee, but in terms of experience then Adam Scott and Jason Day both have claims with Cam Smith a solid performer in his nine starts in the event to date and Cam Davis looking to improve on his 12th place finish last year in what will be his third Masters appearance.

Min Woo Lee is playing the Masters for the 3rd occasion having finished an impressive 14th on debut in 2023 and 22nd last year. There is little doubting his recent win has him as a much more confident and more experienced player than ever before and it will be interesting to see if he can use that to convert his success in Houston Open into contention at Augusta National.

Adam Scott will play the Masters for the 24th time, his previous appearances highlighted by his great win in 2013, but he was also runner-up in 2011 and has recorded another three top tens.

In seven PGA Tour starts this season, Scott has yet to record a top ten and with a missed cut at the Players and a 57th place finish at the recent Valspar Championship, his form hardly suggests he could improve on his solid record around Augusta National.

Jason Day’s career at the Masters is highlighted by his great runner-up finish on debut in 2011 when run down by a barnstorming finish by Charl Schwartzel who birdied his final four holes to beat Day and Adam Scott.

Day has played well on occasions in 2025 with a 3rd place finish at the American Express and an 8th place finish at Bay Hill the highlights but although he might contend at various stages it appears his game is not as sharp as it needs to be to contend late on Sunday.

Cam Smith’s form is a bit hard to assess given he has been playing Liv Golf events to date in 2025 but there is little doubting his great record at Augusta National.

In eight previous starts at the Masters, Smith has recorded 5 top tens including an outstanding runner-up finish in 2020 behind Dustin Johnson.

Smith’s form to date in Liv Golf events in 2025 is well below his best but there was some encouragement in Miami last weekend when he finished with a round of 70 on a tough layout to share 9th place, his best finish of the year to date.

Cam Davis will play the Masters for the 3rd time with an encouraging 12th place finish last year the highlight, that finish ensuring he would be in the field again.

The problem for Davis however is that after what had been a good start to the 2025 season, his form has dropped away and missing the cut in each of his last four events suggests he needs quite a turnaround if he is to have any hope of bettering his previous best at Augusta National.

Looking at the event generally then it is hard to go past the two favourites Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy as the players most likely to take the title.

Scheffler is chasing a rare three wins in the event having won in 2022 and 2024 and although he has yet to win this season he has been playing well enough for him to once again contend late into Sunday.

Should he win then he will join Jimmy Demaret, Sam Snead, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods as players with three or more green Jackets.

Scheffler finished runner-up in Houston and 3rd at Torrey Pines, suggesting his form is close to where it needs to be.

It is hard to believe that McIlroy is playing the Masters for the 17th occasion but in that time he has recorded seven top tens and given the excellent current form he is in then he could well finally contend and win an elusive fifth major and complete the Grand Slam.

Others who are worthy of serious consideration include last year’s runner-up on debut, Ludvig Aberg who although missing his last two cuts this season did win at Torrey Pines and could easily return to contention.

Collin Morikawa has been twice runner-up in five starts this season and has been inside the top ten in each of his last three starts at the Masters. He finished 3rd behind Scheffler last year and could well win his third major title this week to go with his Open and PGA Championship titles.

Players at longer odds for a bit of speculative betting could include Will Zalatoris who in just three attempts has been 9th, 6th and 2nd,  and while not at his peak he has made the cut in his last 12 PGA Tour appearances and would not surprise if he was contending again.

Zalatoris has been rebuilding after a microdiscectomy lumbar disk surgery two years ago and has been able to add weight to his thin frame and he appears to be building to better form.

Also worth consideration is the very much improved Sepp Straka who in three attempts at Augusta National has made the cut on each occasion and finished 16th last year. Straka has been in fine form this season with a win at the American Express and six other top twenties and having played the Masters on three occasions now he might be able to convert that form into contention.

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Marc Leishman wins first Liv Golf title in Miami

Marc Leishman in action this week – image Charles Laberge – Liv Golf

41-year-old Marc Leishman has today won his first Liv Golf event with a one-shot victory over Charl Schwartzel at the Liv Golf Miami event at the Trump National Doral.

Leishman who joined LIV Golf in 2023 has been runner-up on two occasions previously but his 4 under par final round of 68 saw him not only claim the individual title but lead the Rippers Team of Cam Smith, Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones to victory in the team’s event.

Not only does Leishman pocket the US4 million for the first place individual prize (the biggest of his career) but he will also claim another US$750,000 as his share of the US$3 million team prize.

Unfortunately for Leishman he is not in this coming week’s Masters field in which he has previously recorded three top tens.

Cam Smith on the eve of another tilt at the Masters where he has performed so well finished tied for 9th, Lucas Herbert shared 18th and Matt Jones 21st in the 54-player field.

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Stephanie Kyriacou advances to knockout phase in Las Vegas


Stephanie Kyriacou – file image LET

Stephanie Kyriacou is the only one of six Australasians to advance to the knockout phase of the LPGA Tour’s T-Mobile Match Play Championship at Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas with Lydia Ko, Minjee Lee, Gabi Ruffels, Grace Kim and Hira Naveed unable to finish on top of their respective 16 round-robin groups which was required to move through.

Lydia Ko’s loss to Spain’s Carlotta Ciganda in today’s third round of their round-robin group put paid to any chance she had of advancing while the tie between Naved and Ruffels spelt their fate.

Minjee Lee and Grace Kim both finished third in their group stage efforts and will also have the weekend off.
For Kyriacou, however, she’s guaranteed at least a share of 9th place prizemoney although she will be hoping for even more after her round of 16 clash with A Lim Kim on Saturday morning. Kim will pose as a difficult prospect, given she won the Tournament of Champions earlier this year and won in Hawaii in 2024.

“Yeah doesn’t really matter I don’t think,” said Kyriacou when asked re her opponent tomorrow.  “It’s kind of who plays better on the day, which it’s anyone’s game out here.

“I’m good mates with A Lim, so I think it’ll be a fun day. Yeah, still going to try and beat her.”

Group Stage Results 

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Min Woo Lee Australia’s highest ranked male golfer with Houston win


Min Woo Lee enjoying the moment in Houston – image Getty Images 

Min Woo Lee has earned his first PGA Tour title by holding off two of the games greatest current players, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, amongst others to win the Texas Children’s Houston Open by one shot over Scheffler and Gary Woodland.

Beginning the final round with a four shot lead, Lee put together an impressive final round of 67, especially given what was at stake and although Woodland (62) and Scheffler (63) reeled of barnstorming final rounds to apply the upmost pressure to the 26 year old Lee was able to two putt from off the back of the green at the last to win and eevate his already impressive standing in the game.

With the win comes a cheque for US$1,710,000 and a highest ever world ranking of 22nd, but the confirmation that he is on track to fully realise the potential so many have seen in him since is early amateur days.

Lee is now the highest world-ranked Australian male golfer.

“It was a very mental grinding day but I’m super proud to win,” said Lee. “Yeah, it was just a very tough week. I mean, I had a lot of eyes on me obviously. I had a four-shot lead going down — the last round and yeah, I mean, I was obviously very tired, which helped go to sleep but I woke up and I couldn’t go back to sleep. It was one of those where I think just everything aligned this week. I’m so proud to be the winner of the trophy.”

When asked if he was aware of the situation throughout the round and if he took time to look at any leaderboards, Lee replied;

“Obviously Scottie’s right in front of me. It was a bit of a backup so we were waiting every hole. Scottie is Scottie. He made, I don’t know, four birdies in a row, I think three or four birdies in a row. I think I didn’t really not care, but I didn’t — I just focused on myself for a lot of it until probably 16 when I hit it in the water. I kind of wanted to know where I was.

“I was two shots in front, then I made bogey, he made birdie, then I was only one shot. Obviously he’s a great golfer, and I was just looking forward to if he made birdie on the next couple holes.

“I know it’s a two tough holes. No. 17 you can play aggressive, but I had a 7-iron in there and that’s not necessarily an easy par, but I hit it in the right spot on both 17 and 18 and yeah, got the job done. But yes, I did. That’s why Sundays are so tough, you know people are creeping and you know people are attacking.”

Lee moves to 16th in the FedEx Cup standings and becomes one of the new breed of young Australians to win on the PGA Tour in recent seasons including Cam Davis, Lucas Herbert and now Lee.

Ryan Fox began the day in a share of 3rd place but a final round of 71 led to a share of 15th – his best finish on the PGA Tour this season and moving him up 22 places to 117th in the FedEx Cup standings.

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