Min Woo Lee issues brutal assessment of opening round at Olympics

Min Woo Lee, the Australian golfer who had garnered significant anticipation for his appearance at the Olympic Games, delivered a candid and self-critical assessment of his performance following the first round at Le Golf National. The 26-year-old golfer, who has been a notable presence on the PGA Tour this season, has faced a challenging period recently, including a disappointing finish at the Scottish Open and a missed cut at The Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Lee’s performance at the Olympics has been no exception to this trend of difficulties. After a lackluster start, where he shot a five-over-par 76, he finds himself at the bottom of the leaderboard. This early struggle was highlighted by his opening hole, where he found the water hazard—a tough blow to start his round. Despite the promising start to the season, including three top-30 finishes in the year’s first three majors, the transition back to Europe has proven challenging for Lee.

In his post-round comments, Lee did not shy away from expressing his frustration with his performance. He described his play as “pretty garbage,” and acknowledged the difficulty of the course at Le Golf National. “It was pretty garbage,” he admitted, reflecting his disappointment. Lee mentioned that while there were some positive aspects to his play, the overall performance fell short of his expectations. He noted the demanding nature of the course, which he found to be particularly penalizing. His struggles were evident as he described feeling as though he was constantly facing challenges, with poor drives and frequent penalties contributing to his rough round.

Lee’s commentary on his performance also included a recognition of the need for resilience. He noted that sometimes setbacks are a part of the process and that a player might need to experience difficulties before making progress. “Sometimes you’re going to go a little bit backwards to go forwards,” he said, reflecting on the necessity of perseverance in the face of adversity. Despite his struggles, Lee remained hopeful about the future, emphasizing his intention to improve his performance in the remaining rounds of the tournament.

Looking ahead, Lee is determined to turn his fortunes around. He acknowledged the difficulty of making a comeback after a poor start but expressed optimism about the remaining days of competition. “We’ve got three days and hopefully I can do something to turn it around,” he said, expressing his desire to shoot a lower score and regain some momentum. Lee is focused on finding a way to elevate his game and make the most of the remaining rounds.

In summary, Min Woo Lee’s first round at the Olympic Games was a challenging one, marred by difficulties and a disappointing score. However, his honest appraisal of his performance and his commitment to improving indicate his resilience and determination to overcome this setback. With several rounds still to play, Lee remains hopeful that he can find his form and make a positive impact as the tournament progresses.