BRISBANE, Australia — Min Woo Lee won the Australian PGA Championship, closing with a 3-under 68 for a three-shot victory at Royal Queensland.
Australia’s Lee finished at 20-under 264. Rikuya Hoshino of Japan was second, also shooting 68.
Lee won for the third time on the European tour and has four career victories as he takes up PGA Tour membership next year.
The Australian had a wire-to-wire win in the Asian Tour´s Macau Open last month for his first victory since 2021, AP reported.
Marc Leishman made seven birdies in a closing 64 to move into third place at 16 under, one ahead of Curtis Luck (69). Joaquin Niemann of Chile was fourth at 13 under, his final-round 67 highlighted by an ace at the par-3 fourth.
Adam Scott slipped back to sixth place at 12 under with a 70 on Sunday after threatening Lee´s lead in the second and third rounds.
And so, with a four-shot lead going into the final hole, he put on a chef´s hat and clapped his hands above his head in time with the crowd at the 17th, the so-called Party Hole at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
He also brought the crowd alive with a long chip for an eagle at the par-5 ninth.
“The best atmosphere shot I´ve ever hit,” Lee said according to AP. “That one, at that point, it was getting close.
“I was in a pretty average position. To chip that in – it was amazing. It´s one of the best shots I´ve probably hit.”
Lee had a wire-to-wire win in the Asian Tour´s Macau Open last month for his first victory since 2021, and added this one quickly on home soil. It was his fourth career title.
Marc Leishman made seven birdies in a closing 64 to move into third place at 16 under, one ahead of Curtis Luck (69). Joaquin Niemann of Chile was fourth at 13 under, his final round 67 highlighted by an ace at the 160-meter, par-3 fourth.
Adam Scott slipped back to sixth place at 12 under with a 70 after threatening Lee’s lead in the second and third rounds.
The Australian PGA, co-sanctioned by the Australasian Tour and DP World Tour, gave Lee a third title on the European circuit.
“I’ve always thought I could win, but it took a while to get over the hump,” he said. “Two wins in the last month or so .. really proud of it.”
He was targeting a victory on the European tour in 2023 and while he didn’t achieve it in the season that ended last week, he still made it within the calendar year that also included a tie for 5th at the US Open.
Lee will play next week at the Australian Open that has a joint tournament format to feature men’s and women’s fields. His sister, two-time major winner Minjee Lee, will also be playing in Sydney.
