Masters organizers issue statement as golf star penalized for breaking Augusta rules

Min Woo Lee was hit with a one-stroke penalty by tournament officials during the third round of the Masters, capping off a challenging day for the PGA Tour standout.

With lucrative prize money on the line, Rory McIlroy seized the top spot on the leaderboard on Day 3, building on his impressive performance from Friday. However, not everyone shared McIlroy’s success on moving day at Augusta, as Lee faced a setback.

Lee’s penalty came after he requested officials to review whether he had inadvertently caused his ball to move while it was on the fairway at the par-five 13th hole. Following an assessment, tournament officials determined that Lee’s actions had indeed caused the ball to shift, resulting in a one-stroke penalty and ultimately leading to a bogey six on the hole.

A statement released by Tournament Headquarters at Augusta National explained the decision: “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.”

This setback marked another low point in a forgettable third round for Lee, who had claimed his first PGA Tour title at the Texas Children’s Houston Open just two weeks prior. The 26 year old is teeing off for his fourth time at Augusta National, following three consecutive Masters since his first foray in 2022.