Min Woo Lee credited positive approach play and a focus on having fun for his second round 65 at the U.S. Open, which provides the latest example of the Australian's ability to bring his best to the biggest stage in golf.
All professional golfers come into a Major week hoping that they will be able to elevate their game when they tee up against the world’s best players.
For Min Woo Lee, that has become something of a regular reality.
A second round five-under 65 has the two-time DP World Tour winner in contention at this week’s U.S. Open, and it’s a position Lee has slowly found himself becoming more accustomed to over the last 12 months.
A tie for 14th in his Masters debut last year was followed by a tie for 27th in his first U.S. Open start and a tie for 21st in his second Open Championship during the 150th edition of the tournament in St. Andrews.
This year, he tied for second in the opening Rolex Series event of the year, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, finished in a share of sixth at The PLAYERS Championship on the PGA TOUR in March and tied for 18th at the US PGA Championship last month.
It’s clear the 24-year-old relishes the big stage, and Lee admits that it all has to do with mind-set.
"I really don't know why I decide to play well in the Majors and not other tournaments," said Lee, who enters the weekend on six-under-par.
"I think it's a good thing. I don't know if I just focus just a little bit more and just know that some of these grind-it-out pars are actually moving up on the field.
"I think when the courses are pretty easy at different tournaments, if you make a bogey, you feel like you've moved back 30 spots, and over here in a major it's not too bad. Just to keep your head in the game, it can get away from you so quick. I think something to do with the mindset for sure."
The PLAYERS Championship was the first time Lee felt he really had a chance to be in contention with the players at the top of the game, and despite a few mistakes, he said he has been keen to lean on the experience of both set-backs and extra confidence that week provided him.
"I think that was one of the times where I really thought I could actually contend and be there," explained Lee.
"I had a couple bad holes at THE PLAYERS but I really didn't think I was far off. Still held it at the end, and yeah, that gave me a lot of confidence for the tournaments coming through.
"I will definitely lean on to it. Every round I play is something you learn, so just make sure you do learn and don't do them again.
"I need to have that mindset of let's focus and this is the shot I need to hit. But you see me out there, I wave to fans and I do like to have fun, which we realise over the last eight months that trying to be serious is not my thing. I think when I need to, I will, and I just try to have fun.
"At THE PLAYERS I played bad and I still felt like I was having fun. A bit of both."
On Friday, it was evident that fun spilled through while he posted the lowest round of the day
Typically Lee is well known for his prowess off the tee, and that part of his game was entirely evident to see for all after his 407 monster drive from the 16th tee.
That particular shot led to what would be his second of three birdies on the back-nine, also making gains at both 10 and 18 to cap off a second round 65 that has him entering the weekend in a tie for sixth at six-under-par.
It capped off a round that began with an opening birdie, and featured two more on the front-nine at the sixth and eighth holes, with his solitary dropped shot of the day coming at the fifth.
But while driving is something he is well-known for, it was his complimenting approach play that Lee really credited for making a difference to his game on Friday.
"Everything is working pretty good," he said.
"My approach play has been pretty lacking over the last year or my whole career, so it's quite nice to actually be in the positives I think the last two days.
"Hitting it well, driving it well, driving it a long way actually, which is nice on this course because it's long. Just not making too many mistakes. When I do hit it in the rough, I need to take my medicine and just hit it out.
"Putted also well, and everything is working pretty good, which is nice."
And what about for his plan for the next 36 holes? Change nothing.
"I'm driving it really well and hitting it pretty good. I think just doing the same thing. Just giving myself a lot of chances.
"There was only one or two holes where I was -- or probably a few holes over the last two days where I didn't drive it well and just had to hit out. Make sure you drive it well and do everything well."
