Min Woo Lee finally did it. For years, the golf world has been waiting for the "Let Him Cook" guy to actually serve the main course on the PGA Tour. It happened at Memorial Park. The 2025 Texas Children’s Houston Open wasn't just another stop on the schedule; it was a statement. Lee didn't just win; he stared down the best player on the planet and didn't blink.
If you were tracking the houston open leaderboard 2025 that Sunday in late March, you saw a names-list that looked more like a Major than a standard Tour stop. Scottie Scheffler was there. Rory McIlroy was lurking. Gary Woodland was playing some of the best golf we've seen from him in years. Yet, it was the 26-year-old Australian who walked away with the $1,710,000 winner's check.
He finished at 20-under par. A new tournament record.
The Sunday Scramble at Memorial Park
Sundays at Memorial Park Golf Course are usually about survival, not scoring. The course is long, the greens are tiered like wedding cakes, and the runoff areas are basically shaved ice. But Min Woo Lee played the first three days like he was on a different planet. He entered the final round with a four-shot lead after a career-low 63 on Saturday.
Honestly, it looked like a runaway. Then the nerves hit.
By the time the final group reached the back nine, that cushion had evaporated. Gary Woodland was turning back the clock, firing a 62 that set the gallery on fire. Scottie Scheffler, being Scottie Scheffler, carded a 63 to keep the pressure at a boiling point. It basically turned into a three-horse race where one mistake meant a playoff or worse.
Lee’s drive on the 18th hole went wide left. Like, really left. Most players would have folded there, especially with Scheffler sitting in the clubhouse at 19-under. But Lee scrambled. He saved par from the thick stuff to finish at 260 total (66-64-63-67).
Who Actually Made Bank?
The total purse for the event sat at $9.5 million. While that's not "Signature Event" money, it's a massive haul for a regular season field. The houston open leaderboard 2025 payout distribution showed just how much was at stake for the guys chasing Min Woo.
Gary Woodland and Scottie Scheffler both finished T2 at 19-under. They split the second and third-place money, taking home $845,500 each. It’s a bit of a "what if" for Woodland, who hasn't seen the winner's circle since his U.S. Open win in 2019, but a 62 on Sunday at Memorial Park is nothing to scoff at.
Sami Välimäki took solo fourth at 17-under, earning $465,500.
Then you had a massive logjam at T5. Rory McIlroy, Wyndham Clark, Taylor Pendrith, and Alejandro Tosti all finished at 15-under. Each of those guys walked away with $337,844. It was a weird week for Rory; he shot 70 in the first round and then spent three days playing catch-up. He looked sharp, but you can’t give a guy like Min Woo Lee a head start and expect to catch him on this track.
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The Local Favorites and Defending Champs
Stephan Jaeger, the 2024 champion, didn't go down without a fight. He finished T11 at 12-under. It’s incredibly hard to defend a title at Memorial Park because the conditions change so much from year to year. The wind usually dictates whether 12-under wins or 20-under wins. This year, the weather stayed soft, and the field took advantage.
Tony Finau, who won here in 2022, had a bit of a lackluster week by his standards. He finished T32 at 8-under.
The leaderboard also featured some surprise runs. Ryan Gerard finished solo 9th at 14-under. He’s a guy who often flies under the radar but seems to love the atmosphere in Houston. Mackenzie Hughes rounded out the top 10 at 13-under, proving again that his short game can keep him in almost any conversation.
Breaking Down the Scoring Records
What made the houston open leaderboard 2025 so unique was the sheer volume of low scores. Normally, Memorial Park is a grind. This time, the course record of 62 was tied three separate times during the week.
- Scottie Scheffler tied it in the second round.
- Gary Woodland tied it on Sunday.
- Sami Välimäki also fired a 62 on Sunday to jump into the top five.
Min Woo Lee’s four-round total of 260 is the new benchmark. It’s the lowest 72-hole score since the tournament moved back to Memorial Park in 2020. He was basically the first player to figure out how to be aggressive on these greens without getting punished by the false fronts.
Actionable Insights for Golf Fans
If you're tracking the PGA Tour season following the 2025 Houston Open, keep an eye on these specific trends:
- The Min Woo Factor: This win pushed Lee to a career-high World Ranking of 22. He's no longer just a social media personality; he's a legit contender for the remaining Majors.
- Scheffler’s Consistency: This was Scottie's second straight runner-up finish in Houston. He is inevitably going to be the favorite for the Masters.
- Memorial Park Strategy: Notice how the top three finishers all averaged over 315 yards off the tee. If you aren't long here, you're dead. The data shows that "Strokes Gained: Off the Tee" was the highest predictor of success this week.
If you are planning to attend next year, the tournament is expected to stay in this late-March slot. It serves as the perfect bridge between the Florida swing and the first Major of the year. For players, it’s the ultimate tune-up because the greens are specifically prepped to mimic the speed and firmness they’ll see at Augusta.
Check the final FedEx Cup standings to see how these points changed the playoff picture. Lee's 500 points basically guaranteed him a spot in the Tour Championship, while guys like Gary Woodland gave themselves a massive lifeline for the rest of the 2025 season.