Min Woo Lee showcased remarkable resilience to fend off a late surge from Scottie Scheffler and a strong finish by Rory McIlroy, securing his first-ever PGA Tour victory at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
Entering the final round with a four-shot lead, Lee briefly extended his advantage to five strokes at Memorial Park Golf Course. His steady performance, including three birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn, kept him at the forefront of the tournament.
Despite maintaining a three-shot lead late into the round, a bogey on the par-five 16th reduced his cushion to just one. Scheffler and Gary Woodland had already set a clubhouse target at 19 under, but Lee held his nerve, parring the final two holes to sign off with a three-under 67 and claim a one-shot victory.
While Scheffler remains winless in 2025, he enters his Masters title defense with consecutive runner-up finishes in Houston. Woodland, meanwhile, posted his best PGA Tour result in six years, matching the course record with a stunning final-round 62.
Sami Valimaki of Finland finished three shots behind in fourth after equaling Woodland’s 62, while McIlroy, in his final tournament before Augusta National, ended tied for fifth with a closing 64.
Lee’s Road to Victory
Starting the day with a four-shot advantage, Lee maintained his lead despite missed birdie opportunities on the first two holes. A birdie at the par-five third extended his cushion to five, though Woodland quickly closed the gap with a series of early birdies.
A penalty drop after finding a bush off the tee at the eighth led to an impressive par save, followed by a birdie at the ninth that ensured Lee remained three strokes ahead at the turn. Back-to-back birdies at the 12th and 13th reinforced his dominance, even as the competition intensified.
Scheffler’s slow start turned into a thrilling charge as he birdied five of his next seven holes, including a four-hole streak from the 13th. Woodland, too, made a late push, recording a birdie-eagle stretch from the 15th.
Despite a precarious moment on the 16th, where he found water and bogeyed, Lee steadied himself with a crucial par on the 17th. His tee shot on the final hole found the rough, but he delivered a composed approach and a near-perfect putt to secure the victory.
“It was unbelievable up until that bogey [on 16],” Lee shared with Golf Channel. “Scottie is an amazing golfer who keeps you on edge. This was my first experience leading a tournament, and I’m just so proud of how I handled myself.”
Woodland’s final-hole birdie secured a tie for second with Scheffler, while Valimaki’s eagle and six birdies propelled him into fourth. McIlroy shared fifth place with Wyndham Clark, Taylor Pendrith, and Alejandro Tosti.
McIlroy’s Final Tune-Up Before Augusta
McIlroy’s chances seemed slim after an early three-putt bogey, but he rebounded impressively. A birdie at the third, followed by long-range putts on the fifth and sixth, saw him gain momentum. His eagle at the eighth and additional birdies at the 10th and 12th put him in contention for a top finish.
A par save at the 14th and a two-putt birdie at the 16th kept him on track, though a missed short putt at the last left him at 15 under for the tournament.
“The last three days were really strong,” McIlroy reflected. “I adjusted my driver slightly, which helped a lot, and it was good to see some putts drop. There’s still work to do, but overall, it was a solid week heading into Augusta.”
What’s Next?
The PGA Tour remains in Texas for the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio, where the final Masters invite is on the line for any non-exempt winner. Coverage begins Thursday at 1:15 PM on Sky Sports Golf, with full coverage starting at 9 PM.
The highly anticipated Masters at Augusta National follows from April 10-13, featuring Scheffler as the defending champion and McIlroy seeking his fifth major title. Watch live from April 10 at 2 PM on Sky Sports Golf.
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