More aggression serves MIn Woo Lee well at Aronimink
Min Woo Lee – all concentration during his opening round of 67 – image PGA of America
The eight-strong Australasian challenge at this year’s PGA Championship at the Aronimink Golf Club outside of Philadelphia has begun the second major of the year well, with Min Woo Lee leading the charge after day one.
Lee’s round of 67 has him in a seven-way share of the opening round lead, the overall field in one of the more congested opening rounds of a major championship in recent times; in fact, 32 players are within just two shots of the lead.
Five birdies and two bogeys in his three-under-par round of 67 had Lee sharing the lead for much of the opening day after his morning tee time, but Jason Day and Cam Smith also took advantage of their relatively early starts with rounds of 69 to be very much in the thick of things heading into day two.
When asked how he felt about where he stands after day one, Lee responded;
“Yeah, it’s great. I think we’re all trying to get off to a good start. I think over the last few months I haven’t done that.
“I think just a little bit of a mindset change, go out there and be aggressive instead of — you know that saying of you can shoot yourself out of a Thursday, but I think I’ve nearly taken that too far and played a little bit conservative. I’m hitting the ball really good, so why not go at some pins and make some putts?
“It’s great to start off well. We’re all trying to do that. It’s tough, but I think it was kind of the right time to put the foot on the pedal a little bit and hit some shots that needed to be more aggressive than not.”
“Played great,” said an enthusiastic Lee. “Drove the ball really well. I think every major you have to, but especially this course, the rough is pretty juicy, and you don’t want to attack the greens over in the rough just because you can get some fliers or you can get some lies that sit down.
“So I drove it really well and am pretty happy with that side of the game. I thought I played pretty solid all day, didn’t get myself in too much trouble. There’s tough holes out there, of course, but yeah, played really well.”
In 18 previous major starts, Lee has just one top-10 finish to his name, that coming when 5th at the US Open in 2023.
Day and Smith, who were also out relatively early, recorded solid rounds of 69 to be just two back, Smith dropping shots at his final two holes to take the edge off an otherwise impressive start.
Day began well with an outward nine of 33 but was home in 1 over 36 for his 1 under start.
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox made a good start when he reached the turn in 2 under 34 but two dropped shots on the way in would see him sign for a round of even par, which, given the nature of scoring, was a very solid opening round.
Amongst those at 3 under and in a share of the lead, however, is Scottie Scheffler, who seemed untroubled in very comfortable round of 67 and given he has a morning tee time on day two it might be that he builds a substantil lead by this time tomorrow.
