PGA Tour Star Faces Harsh Reality Check on Strength

Min Woo Lee returns to the Texas Children’s Houston Open as the reigning champion. He aims to defend the title at Memorial Park Golf Course and improve on a challenging run in signature events.

Defending champion and recent form

Lee captured his first PGA Tour victory at last year’s Houston Open. He won by one stroke over Gary Woodland and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. That triumph came in his 56th Tour start.

The 27-year-old has two top-10 finishes so far in 2026. Those results came at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He has also made every cut in his starts this season.

Lessons from the Signature Events

Lee said the Signature Events exposed weaknesses in his game last season. His average finish in those events hovered near 50th. He described being “beat up” by their length and course setups.

The PGA Tour Star Faces Harsh Reality Check on Strength as he reassessed his approach play. Lee worked with his coach and team to build stability and power. He focused on accuracy and a steadier swing.

Course conditions and strategy

Lee criticized the thick rough at signature venues. He noted it often measured three to four inches. Missing a fairway by a small margin could lead to severe penalty shots.

To counter this, he slowed his swing to gain control. That change aimed to favor accuracy over raw distance. He said the adjustment has begun to yield better results.

Looking ahead at Houston

Lee seeks to become the first player since Vijay Singh in 2005 to successfully defend the Houston title. He would also be the first to do so at Memorial Park. He hopes his recent changes translate into repeat success.

He acknowledged small misses can haunt a season. But Lee emphasized moving forward and pursuing consistency. Filmogaz.com will follow his progress as the tournament unfolds.