‘Something had to happen’: Min Woo reveals swing change
Darren Walton |
Content with his work on the greens, Min Woo Lee has ruled out following his superstar sister’s lead by switching to a broomstick putter.
But not happy with other aspects of his power game, Lee has turned to coaching marvel Ritchie Smith in a bid to rebound from a “pretty average” 2025.
Despite tenaciously fending off world No.1 Scottie Scheffler down the stretch to win his maiden PGA Tour title at the Houston Open in March, Lee has slumped from a career-high No.21 in the world to 46th in the rankings.
The 27-year-old enters the summer needing to remain in the top 50 to secure another ticket to the Masters in April and hopes some subtle swing changes prove fruitful at next week’s Australian PGA Championship.
The 2023 winner will be one of the drawcards at Royal Queensland Golf Club and is intent on performing in front his beloved home crowds.
But he cautioned fans from expecting to see the usual bomber off the tee.
While Lee is 16th on the PGA Tour for driving distance, he ranks an alarming 157th for accuracy.
Hence why he turned to Smith, coach of his sister Minjee and fellow WA major champion Hannah Green, to make some adjustments.
“Something needed to happen,” Lee told AAP.
“So I’m just getting a little bit more stable with my golf swing and I played really well in Europe – had a chance to win – and played well in Japan too.
“So there was some very good signs and hopefully I can bring it for the Aussie summer.”
Specifically, Lee and Smith worked on his downswing.
“I’m trying to like stack on my left side a lot better as most golfers do. I think the reason why I hit it so far is I snapped my hip back and it’s like a slingshot.
“But I don’t really have that much support in my left leg and left side, so we’re just trying to get over my left leg through impact, which is a very different move.
“My delivery is a lot more consistent than what I was doing before, shutting the face down and de-lofting the club.”
Lee is effectively sacrificing distance for accuracy – and he’s OK with that.
“In the next few years I can envision myself to be a lot better, but it’s a work in progress,” he said.
“The (PGA Tour) Signature events are very tight now and the rough is really sick thick, so I don’t mind if I lose a little bit of distance.”
As well as claiming a third career major at the Women’s PGA Championship, Minjee went from one of the worst putters on the LPGA Tour to second for strokes gained on the green in 2025 after ditching her conventional blade for a broomstick.
Ranked 58th for putting this season, Lee knows he can be “streaky” but doesn’t feel any need, not yet anyway, to resort to a long wand.
“I mean, I do like the feel of it,” said the three-time DP World Tour winner and men’s Australian No.1.
“I tried my sister’s when we were back home together end of last year, so it’s always there, but I wouldn’t. I’m not close to it.
“Yeah, there’s a very good case of my sister going from one of the worst putters to one of the best putters.
“But my putting again is improving as well.”
AAP
