THE 151ST OPEN

July 20, 2023

Min Woo Lee

Mixed Zone

Q. You've got to be pleased with that in the end.

MIN WOO LEE: Yeah, for sure. Just had a blur on the third hole. Hit it straight out of bounds from the left rough, and it was a really good fight back from there.

I didn't think I had it all throughout the whole round, but just made my pars and just moved on and made my birdies when I needed to. Yeah, really happy with the way I finished because the wind was still up there.

Q. Did it get worse as the round went on?

MIN WOO LEE: No. It was pretty constant, probably like 20Ks an hour. Like into the wind it was pretty tough, and downwind it was pretty -- you know, downwind, too.

There was definitely a couple-club wind, so it wasn't easy. Yeah, it is what it is. It was a grind.

Q. We think you're the second Aussie today to finish level. You avoided any other major dramas, didn't you.

MIN WOO LEE: I don't know what Lucas did on 17, but I was in that front bunker and I've been telling everyone that bunker is probably the worst spot you can hit it in.

Luckily it went a metre away from the lip and I actually got to hit it up and made my par.

It's a tough hole. It's not easy. It's only a wedge, but if you don't strike it, then it gets tough.

Yeah, those things can happen, especially on links golf, and got to avoid the bunkers at all costs.

Q. Everybody says that you've got the talent to really contend in one of these big events. Could it be this week?

MIN WOO LEE: Yeah, for sure. I've been playing really well. I just haven't been able to put all four rounds.

At the U.S. Open it was a grind and ended up coming top 5. I feel like I'm pretty close. Obviously winning is tough. Not many people win a lot of times.

I hope I can get to the stage where -- I feel like I have been pretty good at getting near the lead and contending, and it's been really good over the last year.

I know hopefully one of these can fall my way, and you can hopefully get some lucky breaks along the way, too, and finish it off.

Q. Somebody was mentioning that you're going to move to Vegas; is that right?

MIN WOO LEE: Not 100 percent. If I get my card on the PGA TOUR it will probably most likely look like it, but nothing set in stone yet.

Q. Pretty exciting.

MIN WOO LEE: Yeah, every time I go there I play really well afterwards. Time to just wind down and have fun. There's a lot to do in Vegas and the food is amazing and the golf courses are unbelievable, too.

Q. Do you like a bet?

MIN WOO LEE: Every now and then. Not really. I like to have fun. Nothing crazy, no. I haven't got to that stage and hopefully won't, but just a cheeky bet is fine.

Q. You've still got to qualify; big week here seals the deal, doesn't it?

MIN WOO LEE: Yeah, I think so. To be honest, I feel like I've done a lot this year, and before the U.S. Open I wasn't really even sniffing it.

I just got to the point where you've just got to go and play golf, and if it happens, it happens, and don't put too much pressure on yourself.

Q. Can I just ask about you and Harrison --

MIN WOO LEE: Yeah, at the Masters, too.

Q. Have you got a good vibe going there?

MIN WOO LEE: Yeah, unfortunate he made a double on the last hole, but we were both egging each other on to play better. He's a good friend, and yeah, we love playing with each other.

We didn't play too well at the Masters, but the chemistry is there. Just if I can have a team event with him, it would be great. We feed off each other and try to make each other play better.

Q. He's got a big future do you think?

MIN WOO LEE: Oh, for sure. He's got a good mindset on himself, and I feel like that's nearly better than having a perfect swing. He still has a good swing, too.

If he keeps that up, then he definitely will, and all these experiences will help him for sure.

Q. You've got an early crack tomorrow; touch wood it's like it was this morning.

MIN WOO LEE: Yeah, hopefully. It feels like you don't get much of the good side. Most of the time I feel like I've been on the other side, and it's nice to -- last week and this week is very big on that, and hopefully it can be this week. Again, you just have to grind it out. It's not easy.