Min Woo Lee made an unforgettable entrance into the winner’s circle at the 2025 Houston Open, securing his first-ever PGA Tour victory. Lee finished the tournament at 20 under, narrowly defeating Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland by a single stroke at Memorial Park Golf Course.
Lee’s triumph marks the fifth first-time winner of the season on the PGA Tour, joining the ranks of Thomas Detry, Brian Campbell, Joe Highsmith, and fellow Australian Karl Vilips. This victory is Lee’s fifth worldwide as a professional golfer, and his first since winning the 2023 Australian PGA Championship.
Lee’s Career-Best Performance Secures the Win
The 26-year-old Australian began the tournament strong with a career-best 64 on Friday to move into contention. On Moving Day, Lee surged past the competition, firing a brilliant 63 to leave Scheffler and the rest of the field behind.
Lee started the final round with a four-stroke lead over Alejandro Tosti, and he extended his advantage with a birdie on the par-5 3rd. Despite some struggles, including only hitting one fairway on the front nine and needing relief from an unplayable lie on hole No. 8, Lee kept his composure and shot 2 under on the front nine.
A Dramatic Finish
As the day went on, back-to-back birdies on holes 12-13 helped Lee fend off challenges from both Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. However, Scheffler was relentless and put together a solid run, making four straight birdies from holes 13-16 to cut Lee’s lead to just one stroke.
The drama intensified when Lee found trouble on hole 16. His tee shot on the par-5 hole went into the water, resulting in his first bogey of the weekend. Despite the setback, Lee held onto his one-stroke lead as Scheffler missed a 20-foot putt on the par-4 17th, which gave Lee the chance to secure the victory.
Final Holes and the Victory
Lee closed out the tournament with a par on the final hole. He missed the fairway with his drive, but his 70-foot lag putt left him a mere foot from the hole, securing his par and the victory. As the crowd erupted in celebration, Lee pumped his fist in triumph, knowing he had made history with his first PGA Tour win.
The Impact of Lee’s Win
In addition to his first PGA Tour victory, Lee’s win earned him a spot in the 2025 signature events and elevated him to No. 16 in the FedEx Cup standings. Having already qualified for all four major championships, Lee now has the opportunity to play in the Sentry Tournament of Champions if he chooses.
Grades for the Rest of the Field at the 2025 Houston Open
T2. Scottie Scheffler, Gary Woodland (-19):
Both Scheffler and Woodland had strong performances, with Scheffler tying the course record on Friday and showing excellent play in greens in regulation and putting. He’ll be looking to defend his Masters title in a few weeks. Woodland shot a course-record-tying 62 on Sunday, marking his best finish since recovering from brain surgery in 2023. Grade: A
T5. Rory McIlroy (-15):
McIlroy had an up-and-down week but made a strong comeback with rounds of 65 and 64 over the weekend. He’ll focus on improving his game before heading to Augusta National for the Masters, where he will chase the career grand slam. Grade: A-
T5. Wyndham Clark (-15):
Clark bounced back after a neck injury, earning his first top-10 finish of the season. He made significant progress with his game, particularly his greens in regulation and driving distance. This performance will serve as excellent preparation for the Masters. Grade: A-
T27. Jason Day (-9):
Day struggled with his scoring clubs but relied on his short game to make a solid effort. His performance was a decent tune-up for the Masters, where he hopes to return to top form. Grade: C
T51. Rickie Fowler (-5):
Fowler’s disappointing performance means he’ll need to win the Texas Open to qualify for the Masters. His inconsistency with both his ball striking and short game prevented him from advancing further.