Lee (17 under) cooked up a third-round, seven-under 63 on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) to blow by world No.1 Scottie Scheffler (12 under) - and everyone else - on what had been a crowded leaderboard at Memorial Park.
He almost aced the par-3 9th hole and had just 10 putts in a 10-hole stretch, Â before closing out the round with four consecutive pars as he eyes off a breakthrough PGA Tour win just a fortnight out from the Masters at Augusta.
"I just got told that I had (eight one-putts) in a row or something like that and 10 putts in 10 holes," Lee said.
"I guess it was a little autopilot early on - a very solid day again."
Some golfers, including Lee, had to complete the second round Saturday morning after thunderstorms delayed the event.
"The last couple of days were really good. Today was a really long day, I need to get back into bed.
"I might have to do two warm-ups, two physio sessions and maybe I can shoot seven-under all the time.
"It was great fun and very good overall."
He cooked 👨��— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 29, 2025Highlights from solo leader @MinWoo27Lee's 7-under round @TCHouOpen. pic.twitter.com/LOJWzJC3z5
As brilliant as Lee was on the greens, he was also very pleased with his iron-play that he says has clicked since this month's Players Championship, when he shared the 36-hole lead.
"It's just trending so well," he said.
"My coach (Ritchie Smith) and I have done really good work and it's starting to show.
"It's just a lot of trust.
"We've been working on this for the last two, three years, but just the last couple weeks since the Players it's kind of clicked.
"Obviously you've got to hit it close, and holing putts helps.
"Hopefully tomorrow I can hit it a little bit better off the tee and get it going."
World No.1 Scheffler, playing in what is essentially his home event, led by one shot after matching his course record with Friday's 62.Â
"I'm just going to go out and try to have a good round tomorrow," Scheffler, the defending Masters champion, said.
"Not overthink things, try to get off to a good start."
Rory McIlroy made a late eagle for a 66 and was eight shots behind, Â Jason Day posted a one-under 69 to move to five-under and in a tie for 41st while Australian pair Karl Vilips and Aaron Baddeley missed the cut.
With Reuters
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