On Saturday evening in Los Angeles, Min Woo Lee’s phone pinged with a text from his friend and childhood idol, Adam Scott. It was an offer to ride on the former Masters champion’s private jet from California to Connecticut for next week’s Travelers Championship.
Only problem was, Lee, a Special Temporary Member on the PGA Tour, was not in the field for the Travelers, a $US20 million designated event.
“Just finish in the top 10 then and you can come,” Lee said summarising Scott’s reply. Top 10 finishers on the PGA Tour typically get a start in the following tournament if they were ineligible.
Lee had actually planned to spend his week off travelling to New Jersey’s famed Baltusrol course to watch his two-time major winner sister, Minjee Lee, compete at the Women’s PGA Championship.
“It was a really cool feeling for Adam to do that for me; he’s been a good mentor in my career,” Lee said.
“I grew up watching him win the Masters and now he’s become a friend. It’s special.”
Inspired, Lee went out and carded one of the best rounds of his career, which already boasts two DP World Tour victories. Lee carded a bogey-free 67 at the par-70 Los Angeles Country Club to finish tied for fifth at five under par, his best result in a major championship. Wyndham Clark was 10 under par and won his first major by one shot over Rory McIlroy, with Scottie Scheffler third at seven under.
“It’s amazing; I don’t [have] too many top [10] results that often, as much as the top players, so it’s really nice to do it at a major and do it at a US Open,” the 24-year-old said. Lee also finished tied sixth at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in March.
“Although people think this course wasn’t that tough [for a typical US Open course], I think it was pretty tough. I played my ass off for the last four days, and I’m only five under. The [USGA] definitely tricked it up on the weekend, and I’m happy to get done and happy with the way I performed today.”
Lee, who made $US738,934 for his share of fifth, wasn’t even the top Australian at the US Open, with Down Under fans able to watch reigning British Open champion Cameron Smith finish solo fourth at six under par. After an even par front nine, Smith lit up LACC’s more difficult back nine with three birdies – at the par 3s at No.11 and No.15 as well as the 12th.
“It’s obviously a world-class field, world-class venue, and it got really tough on the weekend, as well,” Smith said. “The game is feeling really good, and I’ve taken a little bit of confidence out of this week.”
Smith’s fourth marked his best result since a tie for fourth at the 2015 US Open when he was on debut. “I didn’t really know what to expect coming into the week,” Smith said. “I had heard lots of good things about the golf course.
“The US Open typically hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for me,” Smith said. “That’s probably due to lack of driver accuracy, especially the first couple of days. I really hit the driver in the fairway and gave myself a lot of opportunities this weekend. I feel like if I had to reflect, those first two days for me is where the putts just didn’t quite drop, and definitely should have been a little bit further up the leaderboard.”
After a career-best tie for ninth at last month’s PGA Championship, two consecutive top 10s at majors have Smith licking his lips about his title defence at next month’s Open Championship in England. The Open will come after LIV Golf events in Spain and London.
Smith said he feels close to his 2022 form, when he won three PGA Tour events., including the Open and the elite Players Championship, as well as a LIV tournament and the Australian PGA.
“I’m really confident feel my game right now,” he said. “The US Open is golf’s toughest test especially with the driver. My game feels right there. If anything, I think the driver feels better than what it did last year, and the irons and the short game, I think they’re right there. I think I’m a better player than what I was last year.”
