The story behind "Let him cook!" and Min Woo Lee's popularity at Memorial
DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- It’s not uncommon to see golfers signing flags, golf balls or hats for fans.
But chef’s hats? That is something you will see on the PGA Tour thanks to one guy: 26-year-old Min Woo Lee. The Australian has made “Let Him Cook!” a signature saying on tour through his massive social media following.
"Just growing up in that space and it's like the generation of social media,” he said when asked about amassing 872,000 followers on Instagram, and 388,500 followers on TikTok with golf content. “I guess I took advantage early on and yeah, hopefully I can back it up with some good golf."
This year he’s definitely got something cooking. Lee won his first PGA event this season at the Houston Open. He’s fifth on the tour in driving distance and is up to 29th in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Those results, combined with his social media presence and a new audience thanks to being featured on Netflix’s “Full Swing,” does bring more expectations.
"There's a little bit of added pressure but I don't mind that,” he said. “It's nice to interact with fans and the support I get is amazing so yeah it's a good balance, yeah."
Min Woo has found that balance with a great support staff around him. And just like him, their expertise goes beyond driving and putting.
"It's the same as the golf course. It's not like I have a social media coach, but I have a team that I can talk to and good ideas come up,” he said. “So it's nice that I was one of the first ones to kind of be out there in the golfing world. It's good to put some joy and happiness to the world."
He shot four-over par in the opening round of The Memorial with two birdies and six bogeys.