Min Woo Lee Emerges as Contender for Family Golf Double at US Open
With a remarkable display of power and finesse, Min Woo Lee has emerged as a strong contender to achieve one of the most notable family doubles in the history of golf. Alongside his fellow Australian, Cameron Smith, Lee climbed the leaderboard during the second round of the US Open in Los Angeles.
Lee’s exceptional performance included a magnificent round of 65, the lowest of the day, propelling him to a tied sixth position with former world No. 1 Dustin Johnson. He now sits just four shots behind American halfway leader Rickie Fowler.
As he aims to join his sister, Minjee, who has already secured two major victories, Lee’s round was highlighted by an extraordinary 407-yard drive on the 16th hole. This incredible shot set up his fifth birdie of the day. Displaying his proficiency with the irons, Lee impressed fans with an approach shot on the final hole, landing the ball within four feet for another birdie. This outstanding performance elevated him to a score of six under par.
Reflecting on his game, Lee expressed satisfaction with his overall performance, particularly praising his approach play, which had been lacking in the past. He emphasized the improvement he has made, both in driving and accuracy, acknowledging the advantage of his long drives on the demanding course.
Meanwhile, Smith finds himself two shots behind Lee, occupying the outright 10th position at four under par. Following his first-round score of 69, Smith delivered an impressive 67 on Friday. Although he started with a bogey on the 11th hole, he quickly recovered by collecting birdies on the 12th, 13th, and 15th holes, regaining his momentum. Min Woo Lee and Cameron Smith have surged into contention at the US Open, making for an exciting weekend. With Novibet, you can place your bets and enjoy the thrilling golf action as these Australian talents vie for victory. Visit and bet on Golf by visiting Novibet now and experience the excitement of golf betting.
Ranked ninth in the world, Smith gained two more shots on the back nine, positioning himself well for a strong challenge over the weekend. He expressed the desire to capitalize on longer putts within the 15- to 30-foot range, believing that a few successful conversions in each round would significantly benefit his overall performance.
Lee and Smith entered the third major of the year following career-best results at the PGA Championship in New York, and they have carried their momentum into the US Open at the Los Angeles Country Club. Smith noted that he has been playing solid golf for the past few months, feeling confident and content with his current form.
While Minjee Lee prepares to defend her Women’s US Open title next month at Pebble Beach, her younger brother now has the opportunity to achieve the unprecedented feat of a sibling major-title double in golf.
Remarkably, the Lees could potentially achieve a golden double this weekend, as Minjee is just two shots off the lead at the halfway mark of the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan.
Min Woo Lee stressed the importance of maintaining patience on the challenging LACC course, focusing on minimizing mistakes and making smart decisions when encountering rough areas.
Despite Lee and Smith being in a promising position, the other five Australians in the tournament missed the two-over cut. Lucas Herbert and Adam Scott slipped to five over par, while Jason Day finished at nine over, missing the cut for the third consecutive time since ending his five-year winless streak at the AT&T Championship in May. Amateur qualifier Karl Vilips also finished nine over on his major championship debut. Additionally, Cam Davis, who performed impressively at the PGA Championship, securing a share of fourth place, struggled during the second round, ending at 11 over par and failing to qualify for the weekend.