Min Woo Lee Bio
Min Woo Lee is an Australian professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and the European Tour. Born on 27 July 1998 in Perth, Western Australia, he first drew worldwide attention as an amateur and has since built a reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in the sport. Known by the nicknames Dr. Chipinski, Woozy, and The Chef, Lee combines power off the tee with an imaginative short game and a confident, expressive personality that has earned him a large following both inside and outside golf.
Lee turned professional at the start of 2019 and quickly collected trophies across multiple tours, including wins on the European Tour, the Asian Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, and the PGA Tour. He currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the United States, while maintaining close ties to Australia. By 30 March 2025, he had reached a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 22.
Early Life and Background
Min Woo Lee was born in Perth, Western Australia, on 27 July 1998. His parents, Soonam Lee and Clara Lee, are both originally from South Korea and immigrated to Australia in the early 1990s, settling in the Perth area where their two children grew up. Golf entered the family early, and the Lee household quickly became one centered on the sport, with both children eventually pursuing professional careers on the global stage.
Lee is the younger sibling of Minjee Lee, a major champion on the LPGA Tour and one of Australia’s most decorated golfers. Watching his older sister compete at the highest levels gave Min Woo a clear template for what a professional career could look like, and the two have frequently practiced and traveled together. Their shared journey also produced a notable piece of United States Golf Association history in 2016, when Min Woo won the U.S. Junior Amateur to join Minjee, who had won the U.S. Girls’ Junior in 2012, as the first brother-and-sister pair to claim USGA junior titles.
Path to Professional Golf
Lee developed through the amateur ranks in Australia and represented his state and country in junior and amateur events. His victory at the 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur announced him as one of the most promising players of his generation and opened doors to top amateur competitions around the world. He balanced his late teens between competitive golf and the typical routines of a young Australian athlete, with the support of his family providing a stable foundation.
After several strong amateur showings, Lee made the decision to turn professional at the start of 2019. His first season was a learning year, but it included a fourth-place finish at the Saudi International and a tied fifth at the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth, both played in February 2019. Those early top-10 finishes against established European Tour competition confirmed that his amateur results could translate to the professional game.
Min Woo Lee Career
Early Career (2019)
Lee’s rookie professional season in 2019 was a measured introduction to life on tour. Beyond his runner-up style finishes in Saudi Arabia and Perth, he posted a tied sixth at the Genesis Championship on the Korean Tour and closed the year with a solo third at the AVJennings NSW Open, followed by a tied third at the Australian PGA Championship, an early-season event on the 2020 European Tour schedule. He finished 118th on the European Tour’s Order of Merit, a modest ranking that nonetheless reflected steady progress rather than struggle.
The year was important because it established a rhythm of competing across multiple tours, including the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Korean Tour. That flexibility became a hallmark of his early career, allowing him to chase starts in events where his game was best suited while continuing to build experience against seasoned professionals.
European Tour Breakthrough (2020–2021)
In February 2020, Lee captured his first professional victory at the ISPS Handa Vic Open, an event co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia. The win validated the work he had put in during his rookie season and gave him full playing privileges on the European Tour going forward.
The following year delivered his biggest European breakthrough. In July 2021, Lee won the Abrdn Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, defeating Thomas Detry and Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff. The victory earned him a spot in the 2021 Open Championship and confirmed that he could close out a tournament against elite competition. He also picked up the 2020 ISPS Handa Vic Open crown during this stretch, helping him climb the European Tour’s rankings.
Asian Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia Success (2023)
In May 2023, Lee earned special temporary membership on the PGA Tour, giving him access to a fuller schedule of events in the United States. That summer he made his major-championship presence felt, with a tied fifth at the 2023 U.S. Open standing as his best major result to that point. He also recorded a tied 18th at the 2023 PGA Championship, evidence that his game was travelling well on the biggest stages.
In October 2023, Lee won the SJM Macao Open on the Asian Tour, firing a tournament-record 30-under-par total of 254 and winning wire-to-wire by two shots over Poom Saksansin. One month later, in November 2023, he added the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship to his resume, further cementing his strong form at the end of the calendar year.
PGA Tour Era (2025–Present)
On 30 March 2025, Lee captured his first PGA Tour title at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, beating Gary Woodland and world number one Scottie Scheffler by one stroke. The win pushed him to a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 22 and secured full PGA Tour status for the following season. It also marked the moment his game fully translated to the most competitive tour in professional golf.
He continued to produce strong results in 2026. On 15 February 2026, Lee finished joint runner-up with Sepp Straka at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, one shot behind winner Collin Morikawa. The finish represented his best result to date at a PGA Tour Signature Event and underlined his growing comfort on America’s premier courses.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lee is recognized for his aggressive, attacking style of play. He drives the ball long and is willing to take on risky lines off the tee, particularly on courses that reward power and creativity. His wedge play and short game are central to his identity as a player, reflected in his Dr. Chipinski nickname, and he pairs those strengths with a steady nerve on the greens, especially in playoff situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones include his 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur title, which paired him with sister Minjee Lee as USGA junior champions, his 2021 playoff victory at the Abrdn Scottish Open, his tournament-record win at the 2023 SJM Macao Open, and his first PGA Tour title at the 2025 Texas Children’s Houston Open. His career-best major finish remains a tied fifth at the 2023 U.S. Open.
Min Woo Lee Career Wins
Min Woo Lee has accumulated five professional wins across the PGA Tour, the European Tour, the Asian Tour, and the PGA Tour of Australasia. His victories span four different tours and three continents, reflecting both his versatility and his willingness to compete wherever his schedule and form align.
European Tour Highlights
Lee’s three European Tour victories include the 2020 ISPS Handa Vic Open, the 2021 Abrdn Scottish Open, and the 2023 Fortinet Australian PGA Championship. The Scottish Open playoff win over Thomas Detry and Matt Fitzpatrick stands as his signature moment on that tour and earned him entry into The Open Championship later that summer.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his European titles, Lee has won once on the PGA Tour of Australasia in addition to the co-sanctioned Vic Open, once on the Asian Tour at the 2023 SJM Macao Open, and once on the PGA Tour at the 2025 Texas Children’s Houston Open. His major-championship appearances include a tied fifth at the 2023 U.S. Open, a tied 14th at the 2022 Masters Tournament, a tied 18th at both the 2023 and 2026 PGA Championships, and a tied 21st at the 2022 Open Championship.
Min Woo Lee Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
The Lee family is one of the most prominent sporting families in Australian golf. Parents Soonam and Clara Lee emigrated from South Korea to Australia in the early 1990s and raised their two children in Perth. Both children chose professional golf, with older sister Minjee Lee establishing herself as an LPGA Tour major champion and Min Woo Lee emerging as a global star in his own right.
Personal Life
Lee maintains a strong presence on social media, with more than 800,000 followers on Instagram and 300,000 on TikTok, a following that has helped introduce golf to younger audiences. Outside of golf, he is a passionate supporter of the Fremantle Dockers in the Australian Football League. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, while continuing to represent Australia in international competition.
2025 Season Performance
Lee’s 2025 season was defined by his first PGA Tour victory. At the Texas Children’s Houston Open on 30 March 2025, he closed with a composed final round to beat Gary Woodland and Scottie Scheffler by one stroke, a result that lifted him to a career-high world ranking of 22. The win secured full PGA Tour status and marked the arrival of his game on American soil at the highest level.
Beyond Houston, he made regular cuts in PGA Tour events and continued to compete across multiple tours, balancing schedule demands while protecting his ranking. His aggressive style translated well on long, demanding setups, and his short game remained a consistent strength week to week.
Looking forward, Lee’s form through early 2026, including a runner-up finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, suggests he is well positioned to contend in major championships and Signature Events. With full PGA Tour privileges, a refined all-around game, and the confidence of a proven closer, his outlook entering the heart of the 2025 and 2026 seasons remains strongly positive.
