Min Woo Lee, the new golfing talent in Australian sport, started the day at the Australian Open with a bogey. However, he impressed by making six birdies and a stunning eagle on hole 18 to finish seven-under and take the lead with a score of 12-under through two rounds on Friday. He is three shots ahead of Britain’s Connor Syme and the US’s Patrick Rodgers, who are both nine-under.
Chilean Joaquin Niemann is one shot further back, while Australians Cam Davis, Matt Jones, and Lucas Herbert are still in the hunt at six-under. Marc Leishman and major winners Adam Scott and Cameron Smith are also close behind.
Lee had a tough start to his round, bogeying the opening hole, but he quickly recovered and made one under at the turn before dominating the back nine. Lee, who moved up to 38th on the world golf rankings with his win last weekend at Royal Queensland, expressed confidence about the upcoming weekend.
Meanwhile, Cameron Smith, the 2022 Open champion, also started with a bogey but managed to finish the day three-under. However, Australia’s best women’s hope Minjee Lee struggled, shooting three-over to be tied-12th at even-par. Sixteen-year-old amateur star Rachel Lee, who shot an incredible six-under on Thursday, struggled on Friday and shot seven-over heading into the weekend.
It looks like a compelling weekend ahead with all the big hopes firmly in the mix at the Australian Open.