Lee reaps rich PGA reward
Min Woo Lee can start aiming for Olympic gold after his best finish as a fulltime player on the PGA Tour propelled him to a careerhigh ranking and within touching distance of qualification for Paris.
After horrible weather in Florida forced the Cognizant Classic into a Monday finish, Lee put a shocking error behind him to close with a four-under round of 67.
It was the same final round score as winner Austin Eckroat, but he was three shots ahead, leaving the Australian star in a tie for second, collecting a $1.2m payday.
Despite falling short in his pursuit of a breakthrough
PGA Tour win, Lee will jump to world no.31 in the rankings reshuffle, with only Jason Day (19) ahead of him in the Australian pecking order amid suggestions the Queenslander won’t be taking up his Olympic spot.
With Cameron Smith dropping to No.50, Lee is now in the box seat to join his superstar sister, Minjee, in the green and gold.
An added bonus for Lee is entry into the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week.
“My manager Brent signed me up for that yesterday and I saw it on the email, and I know he tried to do it on the low, but I did see it come through the email saying that I was signed up for it just in case I do – I think it was a solo third. I knew that before last night that I needed to play like that,” he said.
“Yeah, it’s amazing. I was thinking about it coming down the stretch. Obviously, thinking about the win, but yeah, was a really proud moment today.”
Lee, who was the subject of the ABC’s Australian Story with his sister on Monday night, knew he had work to do to reel in Eckroat, and the weather delay and Monday finish played on his mind.
Lee could yet be joined in Paris by Smith, who has singled out playing well in the three majors before the qualification cut-off to try to make a second Olympics.