Written by Rob Bolton
Woo boy! That was some theater.
Min Woo Lee prevailed by the thinnest of margins at the Texas Children’s Houston Open on Sunday for his breakthrough victory on the PGA TOUR. All the strokes count the same, but, and fittingly, it was a Texas wedge from behind the green on the par-4 18th hole in the finale that presents as the most valuable as it positioned him for a tap-in for the title.
The 26-year-old Aussie slept on a four-shot lead and he closed with a 3-under 67 to post a tournament-record 20-under 260, but a combination of events applied more pressure than that data would have suggested. For one, Lee rinsed his tee ball at the par-5 16th hole en route to a bogey with the finish line right around the corner. For another, the onrush of challengers nearest in pursuit consisted of major champions Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland, both of whom coming to rest one swing back.
Despite the fact that this is Lee’s first win in 56 career TOUR appearances, he was just +3500 to prevail on the eve of the tournament at FanDuel. That was tied for fifth-shortest in the field of 153. He’s the third first-time winner in the five editions of the tournament at Memorial Park Golf Course and the fifth first-timer in 14 events this season.
Min Woo Lee closes with exciting par to notch first win by one at Houston Open
With the victory, the second-year TOUR member banks 500 FedExCup points, $1,710,000 and exemptions into all of the remaining Signature Events. He’s also qualified for the 2026 edition of The Sentry. He already was eligible for next week’s Masters and was a foregone conclusion to qualify for the PGA Championship, but that exemption now is official.
As usual, Scheffler was the tournament favorite and again at a familiar +350, but he’s now winless in six starts this season. Woodland was +15000 to emerge with his first victory since the 2019 U.S. Open. His consolation is what is easily his best finish since having brain surgery in September of 2023.
In his first title defense on the PGA TOUR, Stephan Jaeger (+4500) answered nicely with a T11.
Fresh off his playoff victory at THE PLAYERS Championship and what was his debut at Memorial Park, Rory McIlroy (+650) closed with 6-under 64 for a four-way share of fifth place.
McIlroy’s victim at TPC Sawgrass, J.J. Spaun (+3500), missed the cut on the number in Houston.
NOTE: Points and Payouts cites pre-tournament odds to win at FanDuel for all golfers who made the cut. For live odds, visit FanDuel.
PositionGolfer (odds to win)ScoreFedExCup pointsEarnings1Min Woo Lee (+3500)260 / -20500.000$1,710,000.00T2Gary Woodland (+15000)261 / -19245.000$845,500.00T2Scottie Scheffler (+350)261 / -19245.000$845,500.004Sami Välimäki (+40000)263 / -17135.000$465,500.00T5Wyndham Clark (+3300)265 / -1596.250$337,843.75T5Taylor Pendrith (+4500)265 / -1596.250$337,843.75T5Rory McIlroy (+650)265 / -1596.250$337,843.75T5Alejandro Tosti (+2700)265 / -1596.250$337,843.759Ryan Gerard (+12000)266 / -1480.000$277,875.0010Mackenzie Hughes (+8000)267 / -1375.000$258,875.00T11Lee Hodges (+11000)268 / -1263.000$211,375.00T11Rico Hoey (+12000)268 / -1263.000$211,375.00T11Stephan Jaeger (+4500)268 / -1263.000$211,375.00T11Isaiah Salinda (+17000)268 / -1263.000$211,375.00T15Eric Cole (+15000)269 / -1153.000$163,875.00T15Hayden Springer (+25000)269 / -1153.000$163,875.00T15Ryan Fox (+12000)269 / -1153.000$163,875.00T18Joel Dahmen (+12000)270 / -1041.167$108,986.11T18Chris Gotterup (+22000)270 / -1041.167$108,986.11T18Sam Stevens (+10000)270 / -1041.167$108,986.11T18Harry Hall (+9000)270 / -1041.167$108,986.11T18Harris English (+9000)270 / -1041.167$108,986.11T18Victor Perez (+12000)270 / -1041.167$108,986.11T18Ben Griffin (+5500)270 / -1041.167$108,986.11T18Kevin Yu (+8000)270 / -1041.167$108,986.11T18Keith Mitchell (+6500)270 / -1041.167$108,986.11T27Jason Day (+3500)271 / -929.500$67,925.00T27Nate Lashley (+60000)271 / -929.500$67,925.00T27Davis Thompson (3500)271 / -929.500$67,925.00T27Jake Knapp (+8000)271 / -929.500$67,925.00T27Jesper Svensson (+15000)271 / -929.500$67,925.00T32Michael Kim (+3500)272 / -821.214$51,910.71T32Rasmus Højgaard (+10000)272 / -821.214$51,910.71T32Chandler Phillips (+35000) 272 / -821.214$51,910.71T32Tony Finau (+3500)272 / -821.214$51,910.71T32Charles Reiter (+100000)272 / -8n/a (non-member)$51,910.71T32Maverick McNealy (+5000)272 / -821.214$51,910.71T32Nico Echavarria (+12000)272 / -821.214$51,910.71T39Michael Thorbjornsen (+20000)273 / -713.563$36,575.00T39Mac Meissner (+15000)273 / -713.563$36,575.00T39Adam Hadwin (+22000)273 / -713.563$36,575.00T39Taylor Dickson (+100000)273 / -713.563$36,575.00T39Matteo Manassero (+50000)273 / -713.563$36,575.00T39Kurt Kitayama (+7000)273 / -713.563$36,575.00T39Chan Kim (+20000)273 / -713.563$36,575.00T39Trey Mullinax (+22000)273 / -713.563$36,575.00T47Emiliano Grillo (+22000)274 / -69.000$25,593.00T47Thomas Detry (+6000)274 / -69.000$25,593.00T47Ryo Hisatsune (+15000)274 / -69.000$25,593.00T47William Mouw (+50000)274 / -69.000$25,593.00T47Chad Ramey (+40000)274 / -69.000$25,593.00T52Patrick Rodgers (+10000)275 / -56.125$22,301.25T52Matt McCarty (+15000)275 / -56.125$22,301.25T52Jackson Suber (+40000)275 / -56.125$22,301.25T52Rickie Fowler (+10000)275 / -56.125$22,301.25T52Pierceson Coody (+27000)275 / -56.125$22,301.25T52Davis Riley (+11000)275 / -56.125$22,301.25T52David Skinns (+100000)275 / -56.125$22,301.25T52Trevor Cone (+100000)275 / -56.125$22,301.2560Sungjae Im (+4000)276 / -45.000$21,375.00T61Mason Andersen (+100000)277 / -34.600$20,995.00T61Sam Ryder (+12000)277 / -34.600$20,995.00T61Matthew Riedel (+100000)277 / -34.600$20,995.00T64Charley Hoffman (+17000)278 / -24.000$20,425.00T64Philip Knowles (+100000)278 / -24.000$20,425.00T64Antoine Rozner (+30000)278 / -24.000$20,425.00T67Adam Svensson (+27000)279 / -13.500$19,950.00T67Sahith Theegala (+5000)279 / -13.500$19,950.0069John Pak (+100000)280 / E3.200$19,665.00
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