Min Woo Lee upstages Scottie Scheffler to build huge lead at Texas Children’s Houston Open

PGA Tour star Min Woo Lee put on a ball-striking clinic in the third round as he upstaged World No.1 and home favourite Scottie Scheffler to surge into a four-shot lead at the Texas Children's Houston Open.

Lee, 26, has now set up a golden chance to capture his maiden PGA Tour title at Memorial Park Golf Club. 

The popular Australian carded seven birdies on his way to firing a flawless 7-under 63 on Saturday.

Lee now leads by four shots over Argentina's Ajejandro Tosti and five shots over Scheffler,  who could only manage a 69. 

Ryan Fox and Ryan Gerard are also five shots off the pace alongside Scheffler. 

Lee, also known as 'The Chef' and 'Dr. Chipinski', gained momentum in the third round when chipping in for birdie from 34 yards at the par-4 6th.

That marked his second birdie of the round, and he then added three more in a row from the 8th to overtake Scheffler and move into the outright lead for the first time. 

Lee drained further birdies at 12 and 14 and then made pars to the house for a superb round of 63.

He now leads by four shots on 17-under par, which marks the 54-hole tournament record. 

"I'm playing really good golf just keeping my head down as I have learnt from past experiences not to get too ahead of myself," said Lee after the round. 

Adding how he will cope with the pressure in the final round, Lee added: "I've just got to play similar golf and I've got to be steady off the tee as I had a couple of shakey drives at the end, just got to keep my head down."

Scheffler began the day with a narrow one-shot lead and was a clear favourite with the bookmakers to take home his first title of the season. 

But the World No.1 struggled on the greens on Saturday with a number of putts that rarely threatened the hole. 

So much so he ranked 51st in Strokes-Gained: Putting in the third round (-0.869). 

Scheffler tied the course record with an 8-under 62 on Friday but he fared seven shots worse in the third round with a 1-under 69. 

He now finds himself with plenty of work to do at 12-under par and five shots behind Lee in a tie for third. 

Scheffler will likely need to shoot another 62 if he's going to record a 14th career title on the PGA Tour. 

"I mean, really just I think on the greens is probably the only difference," Scheffler reflected on his third round.

"I feel like yesterday I holed a bunch of putts, today I feel like I couldn't get the ball to go in the hole."

Lee’s last professional win came on the DP World Tour at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship in November 2023.

If Lee does hold on tomorrow to win, it will also be his first victory with his new caddie, Brian ‘Bo’ Martin who used to caddie for Shane Lowry.

Lee and Martin have been working together since the start of 2025 after he ended his working relationship with former caddie Stuart Davidson.

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