Min Woo Lee has made his mark on the PGA Tour as a winner. This moment feels like it was overdue, but the Australian golfer secured his first victory in just his 56th tournament, achieving this in an intense showdown in Houston while up against the top two players in the world.
Meanwhile, Alejandro Tosti was also in pursuit of Lee on that Sunday afternoon in Houston, although he took an unusually long time to do so. The tactics Tosti employed during the final round were remarkable, if not a tad frustrating and somewhat disrespectful.
Speaking of the top-ranking players, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy appear to be gearing up for an exciting showdown at Augusta National in less than two weeks. Golf fans would love to witness this head-to-head at the Masters, but the question remains: who would hold the edge as they approach the year’s first major?
We’ll explore all these topics in this week’s edition of Par Talk. Feel free to share any feedback or insights with me at mark.harris@outkick.com or connect with me on Twitter @itismarkharris.
Min Woo Lee Holds On In Houston
Winning on the PGA Tour is no easy feat, and Min Woo Lee experienced that challenge during the final round at Memorial Park.
Lee began the final round with a comfortable four-shot lead, and he maintained that margin until there were just five holes remaining. However, events took a swift turn.
As both Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland edged closer to him, Lee faced a critical moment on the Par 5 16th hole, where he had a chance to secure his win. Unfortunately, he hit a poor shot that landed in the water. After re-teeing, he ended up salvaging a bogey. Meanwhile, Scheffler was on a roll, having made four consecutive birdies, quickly turning Lee’s situation from a comfortable lead to a tense one, as he clung to a mere one-shot advantage.
Aware that two pars over the last two holes could guarantee him at least a playoff spot with Scheffler, Lee recognized the difference between understanding the situation and executing under pressure. His decision to hit an iron off the tee on the short Par 4 17th proved wise, as he managed to get up-and-down from the fringe. On the final 490-yard Par 4, he kept his drive in play and had a favorable angle to the hole.
With a tricky putt just off the green, Lee was two putts away from claiming his first PGA Tour victory, which would offer him significant job security. He executed a perfect lag putt, leading to a simple tap-in that would change his life.
Alejandro Tosti Is The Walking Embodiment Of ‘Zero F-cks Given’
Although Alejandro Tosti didn’t have his best golf skills on display during the final round, he still provided some entertaining moments.
The 28-year-old, known for his fiery demeanor on the course, started the day four shots behind Lee and opened with a 1-over par for his first three holes. After Lee extended his lead early in the round, drama unfolded at the Par 5 8th hole.
Lee’s tee shot went way right, getting stuck under a bush. After considering his options, he opted for an unplayable lie that still allowed him to save par after an extensive delay to make the decision.
During this time, Tosti called over a rules official to express his concern about the time Lee took to play the shot, which amounted to approximately 30 minutes to complete the hole, after Lee had already shown a tendency to take extra time throughout the final round.
Though the situation seemed defused afterwards, Tosti wasn’t done yet. When they hit their tee shots on the Par 4 12th hole, Tosti deliberately took extra time to reach the fairway, which caught the attention of the NBC broadcast team. On-course analyst Jim ‘Bone’ Mackay couldn’t believe the slow pace. Despite everything, Lee and Tosti did share a hug after the round.
While Tosti may have had a legitimate complaint regarding Lee’s pace, his own history of issues with players and officials on the Korn Ferry Tour likely undermines his credibility in such scenarios.
Scottie Scheffler vs. Rory McIlroy At Augusta, Who Says No?
While this may not be groundbreaking news, the upcoming 2025 Masters appears to be shaping up as a competition primarily between Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, leaving the rest of the field behind.
Scheffler has yet to taste victory in 2025, but that could fuel his motivation at Augusta National—a course where patience is key. Nonetheless, he remains the world’s top player, holding two green jackets and boasting four Top 15 finishes in six outings this season.
Rory McIlroy is on the hunt for his first green jacket, yet again. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Network
In comparing Scheffler and McIlroy, the latter has two victories in 2025, but remains more of a wildcard due to past disappointments at the Masters.
Every year brings fresh hopes for Rory, yet there’s a distinct energy surrounding him this time—one that isn’t solely based on his impressive golfing performance. He seems to carry a renewed, confident mindset heading into the year’s premier major, something we haven’t seen in years.
Given the presence of other formidable contenders eager for the green jacket and the inherent unpredictability of golf, it might come across as brash, but I’d willingly side with McIlroy and Scheffler against the rest of the field.
