Min Woo Lee Holds Off Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland To Win Texas Children's Houston Open

HELLO ALL

Hello all and welcome to Golf Monthly's final round coverage of the Texas Children's Houston Open, where Min Woo Lee is in prime position to claim a first PGA Tour title.

The Aussie is teeing off alongside Alejandro Tosti and Ryan Fox, who sit at 13 and 12-under, with all three men searching for a maiden PGA Tour title.

Currently, on the final day, it's Sami Valimaki who has made the biggest move, with the Finn three-under through his first four holes and now 12-under for the tournament.

LEADERS ARE OFF IN TEXAS

Lee is first on the tee at Memorial Park and, with driver in hand, he pounds his tee shot down the left side and into the rough.

Tosti is up next and, with his tee shot, last year's runner-up plays a nice cut to the left side of the fairway. In terms of Fox, the New Zealander also follows Lee down the left side, finding the rough.

SCHEFFLER PARS THE FIRST

The World No.1 will need to go low today to have a chance of winning in his home State and, at the opening hole, he just misses a 15-footer for birdie. He remains at 12-under.

Back up the fairway, Fox finds the green with his approach, albeit 50-feet away from the flag. Certainly, it's a better shot than Tosti's who, despite being on the fairway, plays a massive hook into the water on the left.

Last up is Lee and, despite seeing his playing partner find the water, he plays a stunning second to 11-feet.

LEE EXTENDS HIS LEAD

Although Lee fails to hole his birdie attempt he does par the hole to remain at 17-under. In terms of Tosti, he plays a poor chip after taking a drop, but the Argentinian does roll in the bogey putt to drop back to 12-under, with Lee's lead extending to five shots. In the group, Fox pars and stays at 12-under.

EXCELLENT APPROACH AT THE SECOND

Many players have flown the second green today but, at the par 3, Lee plays a delightful sawn-off approach that finishes pin-high and left of the flag.

Fox also finds the left side of the green, albeit again a long way away, while Tosti continues to go aggressive but finds the greenside bunker right of the flag.

Around the course, Valimaki remains at 12-under thanks to a run of pars, while Gary Woodland has birdied the second to move into the six-way tie for second.

WOODLAND MOVES TO 13-UNDER

Woodland has birdied the par 5 third to move to 13-under-par and four back of Lee, who sees his birdie attempt at the second slide by the right-side.

SCHEFFLER BIRDIES THE THIRD

Despite a poor tee shot, the World No. 1 plays a driver off the deck to the front edge for his second and manages to get up-and-down for birdie.

Scheffler moves out of the big logjam at 12-under, with the American now 13-under and four back of Lee. In the group, Ryan Gerard also moves to 13-under thanks to a birdie at the third.

BIRDIES FOR FOX AND LEE

At the par 5 third, Fox plays an incredible iron shot that almost slam dunks for an albatross! The approach runs past the flag and, coming back, Fox's putt looks in all the way, but just slides by the left side, with the 38-year-old tapping in for birdie.

Back to leader, Lee, the Aussie has a putt up the hill and his putt never looks anywhere else as it drops for a birdie. His lead was four, but it's now five, with Lee 18-under.

TROUBLE FOR LEE?

The leader has just produced a huge miss left at the par 4 fourth, with Lee playing a huge double cross off the tee. It's unclear as to whether he's in trouble, but his drive is well wide of the fairway.

POTENTIAL CHANGE AT THE FOURTH

Lee locates his ball and has found it on a very bare lie. He has called a rules official over, but will be forced to play it from what is a dodgy lie from a tyre track.

While that is happening, Fox and Tosti have played excellent approach shots into the green, with both leaving around six-feet for birdie.

After speaking to his caddie, Brian 'Bo' Martin, Lee is ready to hit and manages to just miss the green right. He should have a mid-difficulty up-and-down coming up, but there's a potential two shot swing incoming.

LEE MAKES UP-AND-DOWN

That's huge from Lee who, after an average chip, manages to roll his putt in the right side for par. He hasn't dropped a shot in 30 holes and remains at 18-under, four shots clear.

In the group, Tosti birdies to get to 13-under, while Fox somehow misses his birdie putt and remains at the same score. That's a huge let off for Lee, who was potentially looking at a two shot swing.

Elsewhere, Gary Woodland is the first player to get to 14-under, with a great approach at the par 4 fifth being followed by an equally great birdie putt.

EXCELLENT TEE SHOT FROM LEE

That par putt at the fourth was a big momentum builder for Lee, who pounds his tee shot at the fifth and will have a great look to attack the flag.

Ahead, Scheffler is one-under for his day, but has missed another great chance for birdie, with the World No.1 not firing yet during the final round.

LEADER IN CONTROL

After a mammoth drive at the fifth, Lee plays another sawn-off wedge shot into the green that finishes 13-feet below the hole.

While that's going on, Woodland, who is 14-under, just misses a birdie putt at the sixth, with the former US Open winner tapping-in for par. He is now joined by Valimaki, who continues his final day charge with a fifth birdie of the day through 10 holes.

Back at the fifth, Tosti and Fox both par to remain 13-under, while Lee's uphill putt slides by the right side. Although it missed, it was still a good putt and another par that keeps him four ahead.

SCHEFFLER'S STRUGGLES CONTINUE

Another birdie putt and another miss for Scheffler. After missing at the fifth, the World No.1's mid-length attempt at the sixth slides by the right side. He remains 13-under.

RORY McILROY ON A CHARGE

He's been going quietly about his day but, at the par 5 eighth, Rory McIlroy makes an eagle to jump from 11-under to 13-under, five back of Lee.

The four-time Major winner is four-under for his round and is in fine form as he searches for a third victory of 2025, following his AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Players Championship success.

PAR AT THE SIXTH

After a solid approach into the par 4 sixth, Lee comfortably two putts for par and stays at 18-under. He's doing all the right things at the moment.

Ahead, McIlroy plays a nice tee shot at the par 3 ninth and will have a good look at birdie coming up. Along with McIlroy, his playing partner, Taylor Pendrith, almost makes an ace and will have a tap-in for birdie to get to 13-under.

HOW MANY MORE MISSES FOR SCHEFFLER?

After another pure approach from Scheffler, the World No.1 has another look at birdie but, once again, his putt misses, this time on the right side.

He is currently one-under for his day but, arguably, could be around three-or-four-under. Either way, he is still 13-under and five back of Lee.

McILROY'S EAGLE

WYNDHAM CLARK MAKING A MOVE

Like McIlroy, Wyndham Clark has been making a quiet move up the leaderboard and, at the 12th, the former Major winner has found a fourth birdie of the day.

From the middle of the fairway, Clark almost holes his approach, as a tap-in birdie now means he is 13-under and just five back.

BOGEYS FOR FOX AND TOSTI

Fox and Tosti haven't got it going this front nine and, at the par 3 seventh, both miss short par putts to drop back to 12-under and six back of Lee, who makes a solid up-and-down for par.

WOODLAND CUTS GAP

Gary Woodland has closed the gap on Min Woo Lee to three with his third birdie of the day on the eighth. Maybe this isn't as good as in the bag for the Australian just yet.

RORY PILES ON THE PRESSURE

You definitely can't write off McIlroy's chances just yet, either. He's in the hunt for his third win of the season, and he might just get it yet. He hardly made the ideal start with a bogey on the first, but he's made huge move to go to 14-under, with a birdie at the 10th the latest to chip away at Min Woo Lee's lead. And if he doesn't get over the line? Well, it all bodes well for The Masters in a couple of weeks.

TROUBLE FOR THE LEADER

And now there's trouble for Min Woo Lee from his tee shot at the eighth, which has found its way under a bush way to the left of the fairway. He thinks he can get it to the fairway, before looking for the green in three. That would be a heck of a result, but his caddie has other ideas, persuading the young Australian that the better option would be to take an unplayable. Surely not a bad call for a player looking for his first PGA Tour win.

Now on his third shot, still almost 300 yards to the green at the par-5 but at least safely away from the shrubbery, Lee lands safely on the fairway and now has a couple of minutes to regather his thoughts before trying to get away with a par.

SAMI STILL IN IT

Lee's not the only contender looking for his maiden PGA Tour win this week. Finn Sami Valimaki is also hoping to win his first PGA Tour title, and he's making an excellent go of it. He made an eagle on the third and he now has his fourth birdie of the day at the 18th to move to 15-under, three shots back.

ASSURED FROM MIN WOO LEE

If there were any doubts of Min Woo Lee's ability to handle the pressure after his errant tee shot at the eighth, a beautifully judged shot from 87 yards with his fourth leaves him with just 6.5 feet to the hole. Can he finish it off for an important par and maintain his three-shot lead. No problem! He moves to the ninth still on 18-under.

RORY ON A ROLL

Aside from somewhat erratic tee shots, there's another big problem for Lee as he edges closer to the back nine - the ever-lingering threat of Rory McIlroy. He now sits just three back of the leader after his fifth birdie of the day at the 12th. McIlroy also has an eagle under his belt today. Ominous for the leader.

TERRIFIC OFF THE TEE FROM LEE

Min Woo Lee is known for his confidence, and that reputation will only be enhanced after his tee shot at the ninth, the 148-yard par-3. He lands his ball to within five feet with a stunner to give himself a glorious chance of a birdie.

He makes it moments after Gary Woodland moves to -16 alongside Sami Valimaki, who birdies the 15th. Lee is now at -19.

VALIMAKI ON A CHARGE

Valimaki made a hot start and, following a birdie at the 15th, he has found the green in two at the par 5 16th and will have a great chance to gain another shot. He is 16-under, three back of Lee, who has found the green at the par 10th.

McILROY'S RUN OF 3s ENDS

After eight consecutive 3s, McIlroy makes a par 4 at the short 13th. He will be disappointed with that, especially as the 13th has played well under-par today. The four-time Major winner stays at 15-under, four back of Lee, who just misses his birdie putt at the 10th to stay 19-under.

VALIMAKI MOVES WITHIN TWO

After finding the green at the par 5 16th, Valimaki's eagle putt just slides by the right side. Faced with a five-footer coming back, the Finn knocks in the birdie attempt to get to 17-under and just two back of Lee.

DRIVER ON A STRING

After a steady par at the par 3 11th, Lee bombs another driver down the centre of the fairway at the par 4 12th, with that one registering 343-yards.

Up ahead, McIlroy is just short of the green at the 14th and, with his chip, he just misses the hole on the right side. It runs past and he will have a little knee-knocker coming back.

PAR FOR RORY

McIlroy isn't giving in and, after running his chip by the hole, he manages to roll in the right-to-left putt at the 14th for par to remain 15-under.

Behind this group, it appears that Tosti's temper may be boiling over, with the Argentinian reacting after a poor shot at the 12th. What's more, he appears to be playing at his own pace, with Tosti only just reaching the fairway as Lee and Fox reach their golf balls. It's being reported that Tosti took umbrage at how long it took Lee to take his drop at the par 5 eighth.

Either way, Tosti missed the green at the 12th and, in terms of Lee, he plays yet another great approach to around 10-feet to set up another birdie putt.

LEE'S DROP AT THE EIGHTH

BIRDIE FOR LEE

That's huge from Lee, who follows his excellent approach with a great putt at the par 4 12th. His putt never looked anywhere else, with the Aussie providing a superb fist pump as he now moves three clear.

ANOTHER CLASSY SHOT FROM LEE

You have to hand it to Lee, he is playing some great golf this week! At the short par 4 13th, the 26-year-old plays a cut with a driver that finishes on the front-edge of the green. He will have around 35-feet for eagle.

In terms of Tosti, he still remains hot under the collar and pulls his tee shot left, while Fox, who is 11-under for the tournament, is in a similar spot to Lee.

SCHEFFLER MOVES TO 16-UNDER

It doesn't feel like Scheffler has had his A-game today, but he is still four-under for his round and now four back of Lee. Following a good drive at the 13th, the American chips up past the flag and rolls in the putt. He is now solo third.

McILROY LEAVES AN EAGLE PUTT AT 16

After a drive registering 355-yards, McIlroy then hits a 165-yard pitching wedge into the par 5 16th to set up a good chance at eagle. He is currently 15-under and, realistically, needs to hole that 25-footer to really challenge Lee.

Speaking of Lee, he plays a delicate chip at the par 4 13th and, with around five-feet remaining, he rolls in the putt for birdie to get to 21-under. That's back-to-back birdies and four shots clear.

VALIMAKI FIRES A 62

That's a stunning final round from Sami Valimaki, who pars the 18th hole to shoot an eight-under final round 62. That ties the course record, with an eagle, six birdies and 11 pars putting him into solo second.

SCHEFFLER GETS TO 17-UNDER

Just as Valimaki finishes his round, Scheffler finds a birdie to join him at 17-under. At the par 4 14th, Scheffler finally gets a birdie putt to drop, with that attempt coming from 18-feet.

Up ahead at the 16th, McIlroy taps in for birdie to get to 16-under, with the four-time Major winner then pulling his tee shot left at the 17th, but it's on dry land and safe.

WOODLAND JOINS RORY AT 16-UNDER

Woodland has just birdied the par 3 15th to get to 16-under and into a share of fourth with McIlroy. This is exceptional from the American, who is on-course for his best result since returning from brain surgery last year.

SCHEFFLER MOVES WITHIN THREE

The World No.1 isn't done yet, folks! After three birdies in his last five holes, Scheffler puts it close on the par 3 15th and, faced with an eight-footer, he rolls it in for a third straight birdie. He's now within three...

WOODLAND GETS TO 18-UNDER

The chasing pack are making moves over the final holes and, at the par 5 16th, the American gets his eagle putt to drop to get to 18-under! What a round this is for Woodland, who is now seven-under for the day.

LEE REMAINS STEADY

After finding the middle of the green at the par 3 15th, Lee rolls his lengthy birdie putt up to just four-feet, with the Aussie remaining steady as he makes the par and stays three clear.

EAGLE PUTT COMING UP

Scheffler finds the first cut at the par 5 16th and, with a 7-iron in hand, he fires it into the air with the ball finishing 24-feet from the flag. Realistic eagle putt coming up.

LEE FINDS THE WATER ON THE 16TH

Wow! That's changed everything! Lee has looked steady all day but has just carved his tee shot into the water to the right of the fairway. That's just the second ball in the water today and has, potentially, thrown this tournament wide open

LEE FINDS THE ROUGH

Playing three off the tee, Lee once again carves his tee shot right but, thankfully, it finds dry land. Coming up will be his fourth, which lies 170-yards from the hole.

BIRDIE FOR SCOTTIE

The World No.1 gave that eagle putt a good run, but it just slides by as Scheffler taps in for birdie. He is now 19-under and two back but, with Lee in trouble behind, there could be a three shot swing in place.

LEE FINDS THE GREEN, SCHEFFLER FINDS THE FAIRWAY

At the par 5 16th, Lee gets a slight flier with his fourth and, despite being over the flag, it's around 40-feet from the hole. He will need to two-putt for bogey and to remain ahead of Scheffler.

Speaking of the World No.1, he finds the centre of the fairway at the 17th with a solid drive. He has birdied his last four holes and is in a good spot to go at the flag once again.

BOGEY FOR LEE

That's Lee's first bogey in over 40 holes but, on the face of it, it could have been so much worse. The Aussie is now 20-under, one shot clear of Scheffler.

Up ahead, Scheffler is playing his approach in at the 17th and he plays a solid second. He's around 25-feet from the hole and will have that for a share of the lead.

WOODLAND PLAYS A STUNNER

It's been a joy to watch Woodland today and, at the 72nd hole, he sticks his approach to two-feet from 200-yards! He is currently 18-under, soon to be 19-under, which will put him alongside Scheffler and one back of Lee.

NOT EVEN CLOSE FROM SCHEFFLER

Scheffler has a chance to pull alongside Lee at 20-under but, after watching Jesper Svensson miss his putt on a similar line, Scheffler doesn't even come close to holing his birdie attempt. He remains at 19-under-par.

Away from Scheffler, Woodland has birdied the 18th to get to 19-under, while Lee is safely in the fairway with his tee shot at the 17th.

WHAT A SHOT FROM WOODLAND

MISTAKE FROM SCHEFFLER

The World No.1 finds the fairway at the 18th but, from 190-yards, his approach doesn't reach the green, coming up short. That's a big mistake from Scheffler, who needed to birdie the last to put further pressure on Lee.

LEE GOES LEFT ON THE 18TH

The Australian safely pars the 71st hole and heads to the 72nd with a one stroke lead. Teeing it up, he goes left and finds the rough, although it doesn't look like a bad lie.

SCHEFFLER CLOSES WITH A PAR

Coming up short with his approach, Scheffler plays a delicate pitch shot to near gimme range and will close his final round out with a par. He finishes 19-under, alongside Woodland, with the Major pair now waiting to see what Lee will do with his approach.

McILROY'S REACTION AFTER TOP 5 FINISH

LEE GOES LONG OF THE GREEN

The lie is good from the rough and, striking a wedge from 155-yards, Lee's shot is left of the flag. However, the approach is long and goes over the green, resting in the first cut. He will have an upcoming up-and-down to win his first PGA Tour title.

WHAT A PUTT FROM LEE

That is superb! From off the edge of the green, the 26-year-old rolls his putt up to less than a foot and has all-but secured his first PGA Tour title. Excellent play from Min Woo Lee!

MIN WOO LEE WINS THE TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOUSTON OPEN

WHAT A MOMENT FOR MIN WOO