Min Woo Lee gets ranking boost to play in Augusta

Just a month ago, it looked like the Masters would feature one of the smallest lineups by Australians in recent memory.

But the additions of Jason Day and now Min Woo Lee have ensured that 2013 champion Adam Scott will have a bevy of compatriots on hand to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his landmark triumph.

The silver lining for Lee after his last-day fade at The Players Championship was a big jump in the world rankings, jumping from No. 50, which is the cutting line for an Augusta invite, to No. 45 three weeks later from the first major of the year.

The 24-year-old, who shared the lead at TPC Sawgrass after an eagle on the opening hole in the final round before Scottie Scheffler outran all pursuers, will return to the Masters, where Lee finished 14th with a tie in 2022 in his first visit to the tournament.

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He will be joined by Day, who is now the second tallest Australian in the world, overtaking Scott by a seven-place jump to 36th after finishing 19th at TPC Sawgrass.

Day, who slumped to world No. 175 in 2022, has climbed 78 spots in his last six events and will return to Augusta after missing three of the four Majors in 2022.

Despite his move to LIV Golf, Cameron Smith will also play the Masters, joining Lee, Day, Scott and amateur Harrison Crowe in a five-pronged attack that could yet be bolstered by Lucas Herbert, who fell to 55th on the leaderboard after a horror show at The Players Championship, he should reverse his form in the next fortnight.

Lee is confident his time will come having played most of the Players Championship and playing with Scheffler in the final group before finishing sixth with a draw.

“I’ve been in finals groups quite a bit lately and to be in one of the biggest PGA Tour tournaments on the PGA Tour is awesome,” he said.

“If I just keep putting myself in those positions, hopefully I can make a Sunday. But it’s another top 10 result and I’m really proud. Sundays are just tough.”