Golf fans, brace yourselves for a surprising transformation that could shake up the Australian Open! Min Woo Lee isn’t just back—he’s bigger, stronger, and hungrier than ever. After packing on over 10 kilograms, this rising star is ready to muscle his way to the top, but here’s where it gets controversial: could his dramatic weight gain be the game-changer he’s been searching for? Let’s dive in.
Returning to Melbourne for this year’s Australian Open, Lee is a far cry from the player who battled through last year’s tournament with a bizarre knee injury—one he sustained simply by rolling over in bed. Yes, you read that right. The 27-year-old, who finished third in 2023, revealed the injury left him unable to bend down to read putts, sparking a realization: he needed to get stronger. And this is the part most people miss: it wasn’t just about rehab; it was about a complete physical overhaul.
“My knee just sub-luxed, like a dislocation, when I rolled in bed,” Lee explained. “That’s when my team and I started thinking we needed to focus on strength.” Watching replays of his 2024 performance, he was stunned by his own frail frame. “I was 71 kilos then, and now I’m 82. Seeing myself on the big screen, I couldn’t believe how skinny I was,” he admitted.
But here’s the twist: despite winning his first PGA Tour title in Houston earlier this year, Lee insists the added bulk has brought stability to his swing. “The signature events in America demanded accuracy in thick rough,” he said. “I knew I had to get stronger and tweak my swing—and so far, the results are promising.”
Teaming up with Australian legend Adam Scott and world No.2 Rory McIlroy in a star-studded group, Lee is set to tee off at 7.05am (AEDT) with a massive gallery in tow. Fresh off a tied-fifth finish at last week’s PGA Championship, he’s buzzing about playing alongside his idols. “I’ve only played nine holes with Rory before, so this is a first for me,” he said. “With the Australian crowd behind us, it’s going to be electric.”
But let’s not forget what’s at stake: the winner not only lifts the Stonehaven Cup but also secures an invite to the 2026 Masters at Augusta. The top three non-exempt players? They’re headed to the British Open at Royal Birkdale. Talk about high stakes.
Here’s the burning question: Is Min Woo Lee’s bulked-up approach the future of golf, or is he risking losing the agility that made him a fan favorite? Let us know in the comments—this debate is just getting started.
For those eager to catch the action, here are the tee times for the feature groups on Thursday (AEDT):
- 7.05am: Rory McIlroy (NIR), Adam Scott (AUS), Min Woo Lee (AUS)
- 7.15am: Cameron Smith (AUS), Elvis Smylie (AUS), Danny Willett (ENG)
- 7.25am: Marc Leishman (AUS), Joel Girrbach (SUI), Ugo Coussaud (FRA)
- 12.05pm: Ryan Fox (NZ), Si Woo Kim (KOR), Joaquin Niemann (CHL)
Will Lee’s transformation pay off, or will it be a case of too much, too soon? One thing’s for sure: this Australian Open is shaping up to be one for the books.
