Min Woo Lee was eager to manage expectations as he recovered from an opening double-bogey to post a gutsy 68 on day one of the Genesis Scottish Open.
The Australian won this event in 2021 for his second DP World Tour and first Rolex Series title and since then has been establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with internationally.
It has not always been an easy road and he did not register his first top ten of the 2022 season until October but he finished with four consecutive top 12s and started the 2023 campaign with three top fives before sealing a best career Major finish of fifth at the U.S. Open.
He also finished in the top ten at the prestigious PLAYERS Championship and is eager to not put too much pressure on himself after finishing in a tie for 15th as one of the favourites at the recent Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.
"I learned from two weeks ago that I was one of the favourites on that course and I got a bit too far ahead and high expectations," he said. "So this week I just told myself to stay in the game and I'm proud of the way I played today.
"We always live with the highs and you think it can happen just as easy but it doesn't happen as easy. Obviously not many people win back-to-back times, it's tough to keep going."
Starting on the tenth, Lee found a bunker off the tee and left his second shot in it, recording a seven, but he fought back to turn in level par and picked up two shots coming back.
"The main goal this week was just to keep my head in the game and to not get p**d off at small things, which I did two weeks ago," he said. "So it was kind of a good stepping stone for today after I started with a double, with a really good drive and ended up in the bunker and kept it in there.
Take a trip down memory lane to @Minwoo27Lee's first #RolexSeries title at the 2021 #GenesisScottishOpen 🏆#FedExCup pic.twitter.com/j9J3p5KT6t
— Genesis Scottish Open (@ScottishOpen) July 8, 2023
"It was a good hard earned two under which was really nice. Without them, I'm somewhere up near the lead so hopefully I can come without them.
"I think it was all patience, really. I didn't do anything overly that great. I putted well, I chipped it well, it was just pretty scrappy but it was a grind too.
"Nothing went overly amazing but I hit some shots close and made some birdies and made up-and-down when I needed to."
