Tag: Min Woo Lee

Min Woo Lee broke his finger doing a ‘side bridge glute thing’ in preparation for the Masters

“It was a very lucky — it was probably the best worst thing.”

Min Woo Lee didn’t get as much prep for the 88th Masters as he would’ve liked thanks to an injury.

Lee told reporters Tuesday at Augusta National Golf Club about an injury he suffered to his right ring finger. He broke it, the result of an injury lifting weights.

“I was in the gym on I think Saturday, yeah, Saturday last week,” Lee said. “I was just doing like a side bridge glute thing and it was literally my last rep, last set thing, and I like threw the dumb bell down and somehow clipped my right ring finger so it … Yeah, so I went to the doctor. Went to the doctor and I thought it was OK because I could move it. It was just red. I thought it would be fine. Then they came in and said, you’ve broken it.”

The injury wasn’t public until Lee made it so during his media session Tuesday. Last week, he was in attendance in Las Vegas following sister Minjee Lee on the LPGA, and there’s a photo of his finger wrapped up.

2024 Masters Tournament
Minjee Lee, caddie Bradley Beecher and her brother Min Woo Lee at the 2024 T-Mobile Match Play at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas. (Photo: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Lee said he felt pressure to tell people because of his high expectations.

Ultimately, he had no idea what to expect this week, but his finger quickly recovered from the accident.

“I mean, recovery was very miraculously good,” Lee said. “I hit my first shot for the last week on Friday, so hit my first full driver. Yeah, honestly, it’s actually amazing how fast the recovery was. It was bruised, still swollen, but not actually that painful which is really strange. Icing and elevating as much as I can. Yeah, I guess it wasn’t the best prep, and I go the flu two days ago. Yeah, it’s going great.”

How is he feeling with two days to go until the first round?

“Early on I was hitting chip shots and stuff, like few days afterwards, and it was pretty average,” Lee said. “Yeah, I mean, I played a full nine holes and hit some decent shots so, again, just surprised. Yeah. I think it was very lucky. It was a very lucky — it was probably the best worst thing.”

Photos: Min Woo Lee through the years

The persona of the native of Perth, Australia, has resonated with fans across multiple continents.

Social media phenomenon Min Woo Lee has yet to win on the PGA Tour but he did collect two international victories in 2023 at the SJM Macao Open and Fortinet Australian PGA Championship.

Lee, whose sister is LPGA player Minjee Lee, is a social media star with nearly a half-million Instagram followers and 275,000 more fans on TikTok.

And the persona of the native of Perth, Australia, has resonated with fans across multiple continents. He signed a deal with clothing company lululemon, which spawned an interesting campaign at the WM Phoenix Open, and he also played with the guys from Good Good prior to the 2024 American Express.

“They’re hitting this age range of like 18 to 30, young people that are starting to get into golf and it’s amazing for the sport,” Lee said of the round. “It only boosts the game. A lot of people love Good Good, and it’s nice to collab with them.”

Here’s a look at the phenom through the years:

2024 Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches prize money payouts for each PGA Tour player

It pays to play well on the PGA Tour.

It pays to play well on the PGA Tour. Just ask this week’s winner, Austin Eckroat.

The 25-year-old rookie from Oklahoma won the 2024 Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches at PGA National in Florida after a 4-under 67 in the final round to claim his first PGA Tour victory at 17 under in just his 50th start. For his efforts, Eckroat will take home the top prize of $1.62 million. Erik van Rooyen and Min Woo Lee finished runner-up at 14 under and each earned $801,000.

With $9 million up for grabs, check out how much money each PGA Tour player earned this week at the 2024 Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches.

Prize money payouts

Position Player Score Earnings
1 Austin Eckroat -17 $1,620,000
T2 Erik van Rooyen -14 $801,000
T2 Min Woo Lee -14 $801,000
T4 K.H. Lee -13 $344,250
T4 Cameron Young -13 $344,250
T4 Jake Knapp -13 $344,250
T4 Shane Lowry -13 $344,250
T4 David Skinns -13 $344,250
T9 Keith Mitchell -12 $210,536
T9 Billy Horschel -12 $210,536
T9 Alex Noren -12 $210,536
T9 Peter Malnati -12 $210,536
T9 Andrew Novak -12 $210,536
T9 Martin Laird -12 $210,536
T9 Kevin Yu -12 $210,536
T16 Doug Ghim -11 $137,250
T16 Tyson Alexander -11 $137,250
T16 Ben Silverman -11 $137,250
T16 Garrick Higgo -11 $137,250
T16 Victor Perez -11 $137,250
T21 Byeong Hun An -10 $87,750
T21 Zach Johnson -10 $87,750
T21 Sam Ryder -10 $87,750
T21 Matt Fitzpatrick -10 $87,750
T21 Rory McIlroy -10 $87,750
T21 Nico Echavarria -10 $87,750
T21 Bud Cauley -10 $87,750
T28 Beau Hossler -9 $59,014
T28 Chris Kirk -9 $59,014
T28 Chan Kim -9 $59,014
T28 Tom Hoge -9 $59,014
T28 Matthieu Pavon -9 $59,014
T28 C.T. Pan -9 $59,014
T28 Jacob Bridgeman -9 $59,014
T35 Ryan Fox -8 $43,875
T35 Lucas Glover -8 $43,875
T35 Chris Gotterup -8 $43,875
T35 Jimmy Stanger -8 $43,875
T35 Chesson Hadley -8 $43,875
T35 Chad Ramey -8 $43,875
T41 Corey Conners -7 $32,850
T41 Joseph Bramlett -7 $32,850
T41 Maverick McNealy -7 $32,850
T41 Russell Henley -7 $32,850
T41 David Lipsky -7 $32,850
T41 Rickie Fowler -7 $32,850
T47 Troy Merritt -6 $23,880
T47 Davis Thompson -6 $23,880
T47 Vincent Norrman -6 $23,880
T47 Alexander Björk -6 $23,880
T47 Max Greyserman -6 $23,880
T47 Parker Coody -6 $23,880
T53 Jorge Campillo -5 $21,390
T53 Mac Meissner -5 $21,390
T53 Nick Dunlap -5 $21,390
T56 Adam Schenk -4 $20,700
T56 Greyson Sigg -4 $20,700
T56 Carson Young -4 $20,700
T56 Rico Hoey -4 $20,700
T60 Taylor Montgomery -3 $20,160
T60 Robert MacIntyre -3 $20,160
T62 Davis Riley -2 $19,800
T62 Tom Kim -2 $19,800
T64 Mark Hubbard -1 $19,440
T64 Justin Rose -1 $19,440
66 J.T. Poston E $19,170
T67 Camilo Villegas 1 $18,900
T67 S.H. Kim 1 $18,900

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Austin Eckroat claims first PGA Tour win at 2024 Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches

The win is the first of Eckroat’s PGA Tour career in his 50th start.

Inclement weather delayed the final round of the 2024 Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches by more than three hours on Sunday afternoon and pushed the first event of the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing to a Monday finish.

After heavy rains pummelled PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Austin Eckroat found himself in the lead at 15 under entering the fifth day of play. Eleven holes later he walked away with the trophy at 17 under for his first PGA Tour win in just his 50th start. Eckroat made two birdies over seven holes on Sunday afternoon before play was called due to darkness and the 25-year-old doubled down on Monday and signed for a 4-under 67 to seal the three-shot win.

Starting the day on the 8th hole, Eckroat eased back into his round with pars on his opening four holes before a pair of birdies on Nos. 12 and 13. A pulled putt from six feet for par led to his lone bogey of the final round on the par-4 14th, but the Oklahoma State grad extended his lead back to three shots with another birdie on No. 16.

Min Woo Lee (67) and Erik van Rooyen (63) finished T-2 at 14 under.

The PGA Tour is back in action next week in Orlando with the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

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Past champs Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler highlight field for 2024 Cognizant Classic at PGA National

Chris Kirk, who won the season-opening The Sentry in Hawaii, is returning to defend his title.

The first stop of the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing is going to have plenty of familiar names teeing it up, even if the tournament’s name is different.

The 2024 Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, formerly the Honda Classic, is the first of four straight weeks the Tour will be in the Sunshine State. PGA National’s The Champion course in Palm Beach Gardens is a par-70 layout measuring 7,125 yards and has long been a stern test on the schedule.

Rory McIlroy, the 2012 champion of the event, highlights the field, along with 2017 winner Rickie Fowler. Chris Kirk, who won the season-opening The Sentry in Hawaii, returns to defend his title, as well. Other notables in the field include Matt Fitzpatrick, Tom Kim, Shane Lowry and Min Woo Lee.

Ryan Palmer is also in the field, and it will be his 500th PGA Tour start.

Here’s a look at the field for the 2024 Cognizant Classic.

Huge contingent in red chef hats following Min Woo Lee at WM Phoenix Open is not exactly what it seems

The real story is a bit less fun.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Everywhere you look at TPC Scottsdale on Friday, there’s a bizarre sight: A group of several dozen men, all dressed in white khakis, blue polos and red chef hats. Each of the polos is Lululemon brand, and each of the hats reads “Let him cook” — the catch phrase of world No. 39 Min Woo Lee. As they followed Lee, they broke out into chants of “Let him cook” and “Min Woo Lee” with each shot from their purported hero.

By the fourth hole of his second round, when Lee tallied an eagle and a birdie in quick succession, the group had earned a following of its own. When other fans asked, their story was that they met online and were die-hard fans of Lee, a 25-year-old Australian who has broken out in recent years.

The real story is a bit less fun: It’s all a part of a marketing stunt from Lululemon. The athletic wear brand, which recently expanded into golf, sponsors Lee and hosted an event with him at the Scottsdale Quarter near Kierland Commons earlier this week.

Last November, Lee put on a chef’s hat on the 17th green to celebrate with fans and honor his “Let him cook” social media mantra that took off during the Players Championship.

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WM Phoenix Open 2024 odds, course history and picks to win

It’s time for The People’s Open.

The People’s Open. The Darty — a day party for those unfamiliar with the lingo — in the Desert.

Whatever you call it, the WM Phoenix Open is the PGA Tour’s annual bash at TPC Scottsdale.

And a loaded field has traveled to Arizona this year, including back-to-back defending champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. He’ll be joined by Justin Thomas, Max Homa, Sam Burns, Jordan Spieth, last week’s 54-hole winner Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick and Min Woo Lee.

Two top-5 players in the world, Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele, withdrew from the tournament on Monday.

Scheffler is the first Tour player this year hoping to make it a turkey, with Tom Kim set to pursue the same feat later this year at the Shriners Children’s Open.

Golf course

TPC Scottsdale | Par 71 | 7,261 yards

2023 WM Phoenix Open
Charley Hoffman plays his tee shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the 2023 WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic)

Course history

Betting preview

Min Woo Lee signs with lululemon; check out some of the company’s golf apparel

Min Woo Lee is the newest golfer to join the lululemon brand. Check out some of our favorite lululemon golf apparel.

After rumors began to swirl earlier this week, Min Woo Lee has signed with lululemon, the brand announced Friday on Instagram.

Lee, the 34th-ranked player in the Official World Golf Ranking, has yet to win on the PGA Tour but collected two international victories in 2023 at the SJM Macao Open and Fortinet Australian PGA Championship.

“I’m excited to partner with lululemon to bring my sense of fun and freshness to the game and lead the way for a new generation of golfers,” said Min Woo Lee said in a statement. “The quality of lululemon’s golf collection speaks for itself – it’s smart, clean, and stylish, which is exactly how I want to feel on the course.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2Af9sJxlvC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

lululemon is known for its comfortable clothing, but you may be unaware it makes golf apparel too..

From polos and pants to socks and jackets, lululemon has every inch of the game covered.

Check out some of our favorite golf pieces from lululemon below.

‘Augusta National Golf Club cordially invites you:’ Players share photos of their 2024 Masters invitations

For players eligible for the Masters, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

It’s that wonderful time of year again when players start to share their Masters invitations. Augusta National will host the year’s first major in 2024 and there will surely be some drama when the week comes.

Defending champion Jon Rahm caused waves through the sporting world when he announced his move to LIV Golf on Dec. 7. The Green Jackets in Georgia have been clear that any player who qualifies for the Masters is welcome to participate. With his win, Rahm can play in the historic tournament as long as he wants.

The Masters teased the invitations on Dec. 21 and players around the game have begun to share photos of their Masters invitations. See them all below.

Players to watch: Predicting 10 first-time PGA Tour winners in 2024

Keep an eye on this mix of veterans and rising stars in 2024.

After taking a nearly two-month holiday hiatus, the PGA Tour will return to action the first week of January with the 2024 Sentry in Hawaii.

The last time we saw the boys in action, rookie Ludvig Aberg earned his first win on Tour at the RSM Classic in November. There were 13 first-time winners on Tour in 2023, up one from 12 the year prior. Golfweek predicted four of them.

So who do we have our eyes on for next year? From veterans to rising stars from the amateur ranks, here are 10 players who we predict will hoist a trophy on Tour for the first time in 2024.