THE PRESIDENTS CUP

September 25, 2024

Min Woo Lee

Royal Montreal Golf Club

Press Conference

Q. How's your first Presidents Cup been so far this week?

MIN WOO LEE: It's been amazing. Just with the boys, the boys have been awesome. But just the camaraderie has been amazing. I really love these type of tournaments, and everyone's been very good. I feel like we're all playing some solid golf, so hopefully that follows, and we can give give it a good run.

Q. What are some of the things you've learned from the veterans?

MIN WOO LEE: Not too much. Obviously we're out here trying to play as good golf as we can. So it's a new course for all of us, and we're just trying to learn.

Just -- no, not much. I hang out with Jason and Adam a lot, and they're the veterans of the group. They just, I guess, keep me level-headed a little bit. That's about it, nothing too crazy.

Q. What have they done to keep you level-headed?

MIN WOO LEE: Just do the processes right. That's pretty much it. I'm so excited about playing, but no, you have to -- there's going to be obviously short putts that you have to do. There's going to be -- when I look at them, they're doing the routine the same as how they do it on the practice round.

It's not too different about I just want to go to the next hole and play, but they're doing their thing on the putting green, chipping green, and doing that. So it kind of brings me back, and I'm like, okay, I'll go do my processes right and just treat it as a golf tournament.

Q. This is your first experience in the Cup. Does being with those two players help you manage?

MIN WOO LEE: Oh, massive. Two really great golfers, they've been around a lot of the match play and four ball, foursome kind of format. Scotty's played 20 years of this, so he obviously knows how this stuff goes.

I mean, it's massive, I think, just having that experience under the belt, not to stress out about the small things. It's a big deal.

Q. Did your sister give you some advice?

MIN WOO LEE: No, not too much advice. She, again, is very level-headed. I try to be like her on the golf course with a bit of flair. She's a machine really, but I just try to copy her when I can with a bit of emotion.

No, she doesn't give me too much advice. Just a little bit of talking now and then.

Q. Are you a big fist pumper by nature?

MIN WOO LEE: Yeah, I'm a big fist pumper. Especially like if the crowd's with us, got to give them something.

For us golfers, we usually have a fist pump towards the end of a tournament, but I don't -- it's not like I've had that many times to showcase that because I haven't been very like close to winning a tournament.

I mean, obviously every hole matters in this Presidents Cup, so even if it's the 1st hole, getting the crowd, it's going to be a big part of this. So there's going to be some fist pumps.

Q. What was the exact order you gave your barber for your haircut?

MIN WOO LEE: It was a funny one. I went to one downtown right near the hotel, and just to not sound weird, I was like, hey, do you know there's a golf tournament happening, USA versus Internationals? He's like, yeah, yeah, I think so. I was like, well, I'm on that team, so could you write I-N-T on the side of my head?

He was my age, and he was very cool about it. He's like, I got you. I just let him do his thing.

Q. Have you ever done something like that before?

MIN WOO LEE: No, not like this. He did it really quick. He was professional. It was awesome. It was like a ten-minute cut. He did a really good job. No, I haven't done anything extreme like that.

So fist pumps and maybe show my hair a few times.

Q. Tom and Jason were here yesterday talking about the match you and Tom won, alt shot. What did they say?

MIN WOO LEE: We were playing like four holes, and we were 2-over. There was a team that was 1-under. Really it was pretty hard to make a move.

He stuffed it on 17, and I holed a slippery putt down the hill, like a 6-footer, and then smoked my driver over the water on 18, and he hit it to like eight, nine feet and holed a putt. It was pretty clutch, I would say. It was a very fun moment.

Again, the captains and assistants have told us that stuff like that can happen so quick. You feel like you're out of it, and then just a bit of momentum, especially in four ball when it's only one ball. You don't really have a safety net.

Yeah, we had a lot of fun.

Q. What did you do today?

MIN WOO LEE: We played four ball for the first four holes and then foursomes later on.

Q. Same stakes, was there money involved today?

MIN WOO LEE: No, no money involved.

Q. Not like yesterday?

MIN WOO LEE: No.

Q. You like to have a good time. Do you feel like this week kind of gets you excited about the opportunity?

MIN WOO LEE: Yeah, I think that's part of why I'm here, get the crowd going. Again, like we don't get to fist pump too much, so even if it's the 1st hole, anything for a partner or something, I'd really like to show that emotion. A lot of good mojo hopefully, and we'll give it a good crack.

Q. (No microphone)?

MIN WOO LEE: For me it's not really the end of the year. I've still got like six tournaments after this. For the other guys, they're at the end of their season for a nice vacation, so hopefully we can do a good job and be proud of the way we finished the week.

Yeah, I'm very excited for this tournament. It was one of the goals I've had the last couple years. Missed out last time and really worked hard to get here. Happy to be here and hopefully -- someone asked me why -- who would I want to win this for? It's Scotty out there. He's played 20 times, and to get a W would be amazing for him and for the team, but for the Aussie boys.

Q. (No microphone)?

MIN WOO LEE: Yeah, I'm going to do that.

Q. These events can have like a sort of reputation for a player's career?

MIN WOO LEE: I think so. A lot of the Ryder Cup boys and the Presidents Cup boys, they all say that you do things that you don't expect, especially at like a high pressured place. If you do hit a shot, you're like, okay, I have the confidence to do it next time.

Yeah, sometimes you do weird things that you don't necessarily think you'll do at a normal stroke play event. Hopefully some shots that you wouldn't hit, you hit. Yeah, you can do that next time.

Q. Do you feel like your game is in a good place for this right now?

MIN WOO LEE: Yeah, for sure. I would say especially for four ball -- four ball, right? Best ball. If I'm out, I would be a good partner to have. I make a lot of birdies, which is great. Hopefully we can do well in that.

Q. When did the Presidents Cup become a goal of yours?

MIN WOO LEE: Just before I missed the last one, it was part of a goal. I played well in the majors but didn't play well -- I missed every cut on the PGA TOUR. Fair enough. But I feel like the majors are a massive part of golf, and that's the ones that we want to play well in.

Yeah, I thought -- I just missed this one out. Let's work really hard to get back. I really love the way that the Internationals gave it a good go last time, and I thought I could be a good asset to this team.

Yeah, again, just the motivation and goal to get me here and glad I did it.

Q. You had a rare opportunity to play with Korean players. How was it?

MIN WOO LEE: It's amazing. The boys are funny. It's a funny one. I have an Australian accent when I speak Korean, so it sounds funny to me. That's why I don't -- I feel like I can't say all the words, but when I do say it, it's funny.

Obviously I want to make other people laugh. Yeah, we just have a lot of fun. We played yesterday or two days ago, and we played well. Yeah, we had -- we nearly had too much fun. I know we're going to get our serious face on, but it's great to play with Koreans.

I'm part Korean. I'm learning Korean as well, so it's good. And they're great golfers.

Q. Any one you're closest to?

MIN WOO LEE: No, they're all friendly. As Koreans, we all welcome each other. So we're all good friends.

Q. You bring energy to this team. So many depend on you.

MIN WOO LEE: Of course. Very important to be good energy on the team. If you didn't have good energy, it doesn't make the group feel well.

I'm normally in a good mood or positive, but this week you need to be very positive, even if things go wrong. Again, it can change very quickly, and I'm happy to be here.

Q. About your hair, what's the funniest thing that one of your teammates said?

MIN WOO LEE: No, nothing. I was just excited -- when I got a haircut, I was just excited to show everyone. Again, that's a bit of extra good mojo, so that's why I did it.

I'm sure it will grow back in a few weeks.

Q. If everything goes well, you can change it to TNT, like for dynamite.

MIN WOO LEE: Exactly. That will be fun.

Q. Were you always long?

MIN WOO LEE: Yes, I was always. Just naturally gifted, I guess. When I was a kid, I always played with older people and hit as far as them, so I think I just got the natural ability to hit it long.

Q. It seems like you're embracing it more now?

MIN WOO LEE: Embracing it? Of course, why not? We're in a very nice place here, and I'm on a team where I wasn't on before. So I'm very happy to be here and very thankful for the journey that I had to get here.

Yeah, just looking at Adam there or Jason, I looked up to them. It seemed like it was only a few years ago. Now I'm having dinner or breakfast, lunch. It's a very cool place to be. Just a pat on the back for, I guess, seeing them as a role model and now being here.

A lot of the Junior Presidents Cup were here hitting balls, and they were all behind me and not anyone else. It's a very feel good moment. Just got to keep playing well and do the same thing, grow the game.

Q. Did you like the poutine?

MIN WOO LEE: It was my first time. It looked amazing, and I tried it, and it was even better than it looked. I thought it was a bit more complicated, but it was just fries, cheese curds, and gravy. It was unbelievable.

It reminded me of chips and gravy back home, but with the cheese, it just -- yeah, it was very nice looking when you get the fork and it's melting. I was having it in front of Jason, and he tries to look after his body, and he's like that looks so good. I'm like, oh, just try one, and then he ate the whole bowl.

We had a lot of fun with that. It's nice to embrace the culture.

Q. How was Montreal Canadiens practice the other day?

MIN WOO LEE: It was amazing. They're all coming out tomorrow and Sunday. It motivated me just to be around the ice when they're warming up. They're just -- I feel like, when we're there watching them and vice versa, you know, we're just playing golf, but it seems very surreal to them, and that was how I looked at hockey. It just seemed hard.

They're flying around the ice quick, and if I did that, I'd probably break a hip. It just seems like -- and if they swung it like me, they'd probably break a hip.

So it was a good moment, but mentally, it was cool to experience that. They're trying to do the best they can for us, and we'll do the same thing for them.

Q. How good is that for team building, especially given you're hunting for a win?

MIN WOO LEE: It's awesome. Again, we haven't had it that easy where we started in our country where our flag is, and it's a long way to come here or to go to America and play, and all of us are on the PGA TOUR, and we have to travel a long time to get there. Obviously we reside in America and make it easier, but we're still away from family and stuff. So I think we have a bit of grit there.

I'm not saying the Americans don't have grit, they do, but we just have this different grit where it was a little harder and the sacrifice.

It's amazing for all of us to bond as well from different countries. Four of the other guys don't really -- a few of the other guys don't really know how to speak a hundred percent English, and we still manage to have pew tin and enjoy. So it's a really cool moment. I'm glad I can speak a little bit in Korean and bond the group together.

Q. Jason Day said you have the potential to be World No. 1. When you hear that, what's your reaction?

MIN WOO LEE: I thought I would get this question. I paid him to say that. No, I'm just joking. (Laughter).

I think it's very easier said than done. Obviously it's sincere, but I could say that to a lot of people. You just need to work at it. Being part of the Olympics with him, that made a big, I guess, switch in my mind where I am gifted. I hit it long. I do a lot of things right, but can I get better? Yes, I can.

I think the work ethic wasn't as good as it could have been. So, yeah, I think to be good, you have to have a different type of work ethic, and that was a big part of being in the Olympics with Jason.

Again, easier said than done. I have to do all the right things to be there, but it's great to have a friend and a role model still just to tell me that. It's amazing.

Q. (No microphone)?

MIN WOO LEE: No, I saw that. I try to not see it, but you see it. I'm on social media most of the time. I see stuff like that.

I think I've gone through enough where don't let it get to my head. Again, he said that to me directly, so it's not like it's out of the blue for him to go and say that. It's encouraging, but I still need to go and do the work.

Q. (No microphone)?

MIN WOO LEE: He's been awesome. He's gone through it a lot. Great golfer himself. Still plays. We're out there most tournaments together. Just a very positive guy, hard if he needs to. I think that's what all leaders are. They know what to do, and they've been around here so much.

He's part of the veteran group. So he's a big part of this team.

Q. There's been a lot of videos of the Shield. What kind of emotions do you get from it?

MIN WOO LEE: Again, it's amazing. We've had a lot of chats about when that started. A few years ago, Ernie -- we didn't have an identity. So we were just kind of going as the International Team. It was amazing to have something represent us. It means a lot. You wear it, you're part of a team now.

I think I was the 79th player on this team, and that's not many people. So it's amazing to be in this group. A lot of great golfers have come from it, and I don't take it lightly. I've worked hard to get here. So I think we all have very proud of the way we played to wear this Shield.

Q. Quick questions about your teammates. Who would you least want to catch the auxiliary cord?

MIN WOO LEE: Bussy is Scotty's caddie, so he plays some old tunes. They pass it to me to get some new tunes. Part of the team? I don't know, I don't want to be mean. I don't want to say Sungjae, he's too nice. I don't know. That's a hard one. But pass it to me. Pass the aux to me.

Q. Is there someone on the team that you love the most or maybe are a little jealous?

MIN WOO LEE: Do I need to answer that? Do I need to answer that? Scotty obviously. He's got a wonderful swing. All these guys have great swings. They hit it so well, but Scotty.

Q. Most likely to be late?

MIN WOO LEE: Me (laughter).

Q. How would you describe Hideki in one word?

MIN WOO LEE: One word? Private. I think that's a good one. No one really knows much about Hideki. He's an assassin. Golf terms, assassin. He does his own thing usually, and he plays wonderful golf. So assassin, and then off the course, private.

I don't know, does he have a kid? Does he have anything? Where does he live? I don't know. I don't even think Google knows. So privately assassin.

Q. When did you last play in a team event?

MIN WOO LEE: The Olympics is kind of like this. Probably when I was an amateur. Not many team events in pro golf. Very cool to have it kind of close to the Olympics. It was one of the best weeks of my life.

Q. You're already a personality character. Where does the team bring it out? Do they get more out of you?

MIN WOO LEE: Yeah, I think sometimes when you're just an individual usually, so as a team, you want to have good vibes, I try to be as very a good light as I can to the team and funny. They just laugh at my jokes. Sometimes I'm funny. Sometimes I'm not.

Q. Who on this team is the funniest besides you?

MIN WOO LEE: Man, we all laugh. Jason. I didn't know Jason was half like this before I saw him at Olympics. He's funny. He is me but older but younger in his head.

I don't know, we're both like 12-year-olds in our bodies. It's funny to say my vocabulary, and he's right there with it. It's cool.

Q. What does Hideki bring to the group?

MIN WOO LEE: I mean, he's -- I would say he's our No. 1 player. He brings a lot. Very great golfer. I was just saying before, he's very private. So you don't really know what's going on. We can all learn from that. He does his own thing. He does the right thing. When it's game time, he's there to win some points and to play some good golf.

Sometimes we can get too excited about this team environment, and he's just very straightforward and gets to the point. He brings good golf to the team.