Min Woo Lee has no fear of playing the lead role for this week's Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane.
Lee jumped from 252nd in the rankings to 51st in the world in June after winning the Scottish Open last year, breaking into the top 50 to receive an invitation to this year's Masters.
Preparations for his maiden visit to Augusta National begin at the Royal Queensland Golf Club, where 23-year-old Joe Kirkwood is the favorite to claim the Cup.
It is just over two years since Adam Scott lifted the trophy on the Gold Coast in late 2019, after the global COVID pandemic devastated the Australian golf swing last summer.
Ongoing travel restrictions mean Scott and other big names such as Cameron Smith and Mark Leishman will not play in this week's tournament, giving Lee Starr billing for the event.
It is a position he is confident he will enjoy, claiming it is similar to his first professional victory at the 2020 Vic Open, when he beat an under-strength field for a two-shot tournament victory. Was.
"I feel like I was a high-ranked player at the Vic Open," Lee said.
“Hopefully the crowd is going to be great and out there and cheering me on.
"It's a big advantage but I'll go there and play.
"Hopefully I'll play well and get the year rolling."
Two-time Australian PGA Championship winner Smith's record-breaking win at the US PGA Tour Tournament of Champions on Monday has provided Lee with plenty of motivation to move forward in this week's tournament.
He wants to emulate Smith and follow his path to become a US PGA Tour card holder and join sister Minji, a major winner in the US.
"He's been playing really well since he's on the PGA Tour and maybe it's the right way to be a top-10 player in the world," Lee said of Smith.
"Every year, just keep pushing for results and just keep winning once or twice a year.
"It's great to see so hopefully I can do the same but he did a really good job."
Lee at the start of the Australian PGA Championship and the rest of the grounds will begin on Thursday.