What do you do when the crowd not only cheers for you but also basically invents a theme song for every swing you take? Ask Min Woo Lee. He’s living it. Just recently, Min Woo Lee's fans turned up the heat at one of his rounds that had everyone doing a double-take. Then came the twist. A simple swing, a rising roar, and a chant that would define the day.

The man they call “The Chef,” Min Woo Lee, is back on home soil at the 2025 BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club. And if the early signs are anything to go by, fans might just get treated to another of his trademark “cooking” performances. Let's see how it happened!

Lee opened the tournament with a strong performance: in his first nine holes, he produced two birdies and an eagle, signalling intent right away. He then steadied himself on the back nine, parring every hole to finish the opening round at 3 under par, just one shot off the top; a clear statement that “The Chef” is cooking something special this week. And just when the round seemed to settle, the fans added their own spark. That’s when things took an unexpected turn.

But the action didn’t end with the scorecard; the crowd had a moment of its own. As the video posted by DP World Tour shows Lee hitting a shot, a voice can be heard saying, “Light the candle.” The fans blew up with joy and shouted the famous golf quote. The post reads, “Oh, he did. 😮💨 #AusPGA”

Now, the 27-year-old fan favorite's second-round 66 on Friday vaulted him to eight under, just two shots behind leader Kazuma Korobi. His unforgettable 2023 triumph at Royal Queensland, complete with a chef’s hat on the penultimate hole, turned the “Let Him Cook” chant into a global phenomenon. Lee’s near-flawless run finally blinked with a closing bogey. Just his second dropped shot in 32 holes as young rival Marco Penge pushed him all afternoon in a fiery Friday clash.

After a grinding start on Thursday, Lee, already a PGA Tour winner this year, insists he’s finding his rhythm at exactly the right moment. And if Friday proved anything, it’s that Min Woo Lee didn’t slow down; he doubled down.

Min Woo Lee Didn’t Reset

Lee arrived in Brisbane determined to finish 2025 on a high. After his first PGA Tour win earlier this year at the Texas Children's Houston Open, he admitted that he had become too result-oriented. As he put it, “I just didn’t reset, didn’t write my goals … I was a little result-oriented and not process-driven.”

Returning to Royal Queensland, where he already owns the 2023 Australian PGA title, was a welcome boost. As Lee put it, “It is great to come back to a place you won before … We all want to get our hands on the trophies.” And he has been working on his shots throught the year.

After a post-win slump earlier in the year, Lee and his coach worked on his swing mechanics. Especially his hip movement, and he bulked up to generate better stability and consistency.

That renewed focus on process over quick results appears to be paying off. As he said ahead of the tournament, “I just want to play really good, solid golf, and hopefully I can give myself a chance on Sunday to get that trophy.”

With his short game dialed in, recent form trending up, and the comfort of familiar ground, Lee heads into the weekend firmly in contention. Do you think Min Woo Lee is about to cook up another win this weekend? Do tell us in the comments.

Written by

Dolly Bhamrick

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar