Min Woo Lee Bio
Min Woo Lee (born 27 July 1998) is an Australian professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and the European Tour. Known for his aggressive ball striking and outgoing personality, Lee has built a reputation as one of the most exciting young players in the international game. He has won multiple titles across the European Tour, the Asian Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, and the PGA Tour.
Early Life and Background
Min Woo Lee was born on 27 July 1998 in Perth, Western Australia. His parents, Soonam Lee and Clara Lee, are originally from South Korea and immigrated to Australia in the early 1990s before settling in Perth. Growing up in a sports-oriented household, Lee was introduced to golf at a young age and quickly developed a passion for the game.
Lee comes from one of the most accomplished sporting families in Australian golf. His older sister, Minjee Lee, is a major championship winner on the LPGA Tour, and the two siblings trained together throughout their formative years. The shared dedication to the sport created a competitive household that helped shape Lee’s work ethic and competitive drive.
Path to Professional Golf
Lee’s amateur career was marked by significant achievements, including winning the 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur. With that victory, he and Minjee Lee became the first brother-and-sister pair to win United States Golf Association junior championships, as Minjee had captured the U.S. Girls’ Junior in 2012. Lee also represented Australia in amateur team competitions, gaining valuable experience at the international level.
Following his junior success, Lee competed in several high-profile amateur events and earned a reputation as one of the top amateurs in the world. His consistent results and distance off the tee drew attention from professional circuits. He turned professional at the start of 2019, beginning his journey on the European Tour and developmental tours across Australia and Asia.
Min Woo Lee Career
Early Career (2019)
Lee opened his rookie professional season in 2019 with appearances on the European Tour. He posted early top-10 finishes, including a tie for fourth at the Saudi International and a tie for fifth at the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth, both played in February. Beyond those events, however, he recorded limited top-10 results and finished 118th on the European Tour Order of Merit.
Outside Europe, Lee gained additional experience on the Korean Tour, where he tied for sixth at the Genesis Championship in October. He closed his first professional year with a solo third-place finish at the AVJennings NSW Open and a tie for third at the Australian PGA Championship, signaling his readiness for bigger titles on the international stage.
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 breakthrough confirmed his potential as a tour-level winner and gave him full playing privileges in Europe.
Lee’s biggest European Tour moment came in July 2021, when he defeated Thomas Detry and Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff to win the Abrdn Scottish Open. The victory, one of the most prestigious Rolex Series events, earned him a place in the 2021 Open Championship and announced his arrival among the game’s elite competitors.
Asian Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia Success (2023)
In May 2023, Lee earned special temporary membership on the PGA Tour, opening the door to regular competition in the United States. Later that year, in October, he added the SJM Macao Open on the Asian Tour to his resume, setting a tournament scoring record of 254, thirty under par, while winning wire-to-wire by two shots over Poom Saksansin.
One month later, in November 2023, Lee returned to Australia and won the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship, further strengthening his connection to the PGA Tour of Australasia. These wins showcased his versatility across multiple tours and playing conditions.
PGA Tour Era (2025–Present)
On 30 March 2025, Lee earned his first PGA Tour victory by winning the Texas Children’s Houston Open. The milestone confirmed his transition into a consistent PGA Tour contender and marked a defining moment in his career on American soil.
Operating primarily out of Las Vegas, Nevada, Lee now balances his schedule between the PGA Tour and the European Tour. His growing presence on leaderboards, combined with his popularity among fans, has helped elevate his profile across global golf.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Lee’s signature achievements are his playoff win at the 2021 Abrdn Scottish Open, his tournament-record performance at the 2023 SJM Macao Open, and his first PGA Tour title at the 2025 Texas Children’s Houston Open. His 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur victory alongside his sister Minjee’s 2012 U.S. Girls’ Junior title also stands as a unique family milestone in United States Golf Association history.
Min Woo Lee Career Wins
Across his professional career, Min Woo Lee has accumulated at least five verified tour victories spanning the European Tour, the Asian Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, and the PGA Tour.
Tour Highlights
Lee’s European Tour wins include the 2020 ISPS Handa Vic Open, co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour of Australasia, and the 2021 Abrdn Scottish Open. On the Asian Tour, he captured the 2023 SJM Macao Open in dominant fashion, while his most recent title at the time of writing came at the 2023 Fortinet Australian PGA Championship. He added his first PGA Tour win at the 2025 Texas Children’s Houston Open.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his full tour victories, Lee has recorded multiple high finishes in marquee events, including a tie for fourth at the 2019 Saudi International and a tie for third at the 2019 Australian PGA Championship. He has also posted strong results in major championships and continues to expand his resume with consistent performances worldwide.
Min Woo Lee Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Lee’s parents, Soonam Lee and Clara Lee, were both born in South Korea before immigrating to Australia in the early 1990s. They raised their children in Perth, where both Min Woo and his older sister Minjee pursued golf at the highest level.
Personal Life
Lee maintains a strong social media presence, with more than 800,000 followers on Instagram and over 300,000 followers on TikTok, and has been described by Golf Magazine as possibly the first golf cult hero. He is a passionate supporter of the Fremantle Dockers in the Australian Football League. He currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has already produced a career-defining moment for Min Woo Lee, who captured his first PGA Tour title at the Texas Children’s Houston Open in March. The win validated his status as a special temporary member and signaled his readiness to compete regularly on the United States-based circuit.
With European Tour status and PGA Tour membership, Lee has the flexibility to choose events across multiple continents. His aggressive style and distance off the tee suit a wide range of courses, and his growing comfort in major championship settings suggests he will be a factor in the biggest events of the year.
Lee will look to build on his Houston Open momentum by contending in remaining majors, elite-field events, and playoffs as the season develops. His combination of power, charisma, and growing experience makes him one of the most closely watched players in international golf heading into the rest of 2025.