Min Woo Lee given one-shot penalty for breaking golf rule (!) at The Masters
Australian professional golfer Min Woo Lee was given a one-shot penalty for breaking a golf rule during the third round of the 2025 Masters at Augusta.
Australian professional golfer Min Woo Lee was given a one-shot penalty for breaking a golf rule during the third round of the 2025 Masters.
Lee, who claimed his maiden PGA Tour win in Houston last month, fell foul of the rule on the par-5 13th at Augusta National.
The 26-year-old split the fairway with his tee shot and decided to try and reach the green with his second.
His approach found the first cut of rough and he went on to make a par on the hole.
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But his score was later changed to a bogey after he was adjudged to have made his golf ball move in the fairway.
Augusta National released a statement after Lee completed his round on Saturday.
"On hole No. 13, Min Woo Lee asked for assistance after his ball moved on the fairway," Augusta National said it in a statement.
"It was determined his actions near the ball did cause it to move and one penalty stroke was added to his score under Rule 9.4b."
Lee eventually signed for a 5-over 77.
At the time of publication, Lee was in a share for 48th on 4-over par.
This is Lee's fourth appearance at The Masters.
He has top-25 finishes in five of his last nine starts in the majors, including a T5 finish in the 2023 U.S. Open.
Lee picked up his first PGA Tour victory in March with a one-stroke victory over Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland.
He arrived at the 2025 Masters Tournament as a dark horse to contend for the green jacket.
Statement from Tournament Headquarters:
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025
On hole No. 13, Min Woo Lee asked for assistance after his ball moved on the fairway. It was determined his actions near the ball did cause it to move and one penalty stroke was added to his score under Rule 9.4b.
Fresh information comes to light
Golf Digest's Christopher Powers shed more light on what transpired on Saturday evening.
"At the par-5 13th on Saturday at The Masters, Min Woo Lee hit his drive right down the middle of the fairway and has less than 250 yards in," he said.
"He pulls out an iron and addresses the ball and the ball moves. To his credit, he calls for a referee immediately and tells him the situation.
"On themasters.com Amen Corner feed you can see in the video for yourself that Lee goes to address the ball and it moves and he picks his golf club up right away.
"He says, 'Oh, that ball just moved'. Lee pleads his case to the official. He says, 'No, no, it was so quick. I put my club down and I immediately picked it back up."
The rules official asked Lee's playing partner, Harris English, if he agreed that his actions did not cause the ball to move.
The American concurred but after viewing the footage again tournament officials believed Lee was guilty of causing his ball to move.
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