When Min Woo Lee began his career, he stood in the shadow of his sister, Minjee Lee, already a five-time LPGA Tour winner. Over time, he forged his own path with victories on the PGA, DP World, and Asian Tours. Born on July 27, 1998, in Perth, Australia, Min Woo was raised in a sports-driven household by parents Soonam and Clara Lee, whose athletic influence shaped the success of both siblings.

The Lees’ story roots in South Korea. But due to the future of their children, the Lee couple moved to Perth, Australia, in early 1990. Clara was a trained golf professional, while Soonam had a background in basketball and swimming coaching. It won’t be wrong to say that together the couple sprouted a rich sporting heritage. From the moment Minjee was born, golf became a central part of their life, with Clara’s teaching shaping the very way the children experienced sport.

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The golfing matriarch

After settling in Perth, Clara manifested her golfing skills into a full-time career. She secured a position as a teaching professional at a local driving range. It was there that both Minjee and Min Woo grew up, following mom around as she taught and refined her students’ swings.

Clara’s coaching philosophy was all about strict attention to fundamentals given within a nurturing environment. She emphasized grip, alignment, rhythm, and course management. But at the same time, she didn’t forget to let her children enjoy the competitive spirit of golf. Week after week, Clara’s hands-on approach ensured that both siblings not just develop the physical calibre required in golf, but also the mental tenacity that separates elite pros from regular newbies.

Clara crafted the daily schedule to give support to her children’s dreams. It involved early mornings, practice sessions, and family competitions. “We used to play golf at the local club together and Mum would always want to win,” they said in an interview.

Dad’s athletic backbone

If Clara laid the technical foundation, Soonam Lee brought a fun-filled energy adorned with playfulness to the family’s sporting life. When he met Clara, he sidelined his attention from basketball and swimming and took up golf seriously, quickly reaching a plus-handicap level. “My dad started playing golf when he met my mom and became a plus-handicap. I didn’t love golf as a kid, but since we’re a golfing family, it’s always been a part of my life,” Min Woo reflected in a Golf Digest interview once. “It took me longer to fall in love with golf.”

Soonam also brought humor to the household, which kept practice sessions fun. He loves pranking his kids, something Min Woo took on from him.“I learned from the best,” Min Woo says. He has sacrificed tremendously for his family. When Min Woo was in high school, Soonam retired to look after him. Clara was present in the US, looking after Minjee as she was embarking on the LPGA Tour. To pass the time off, Soonam bought a cafe from a friend. His love for coffee propelled him to work hard and earn something on the side.

Now that his kids are settled, Soornam still takes time out to watch them play. “He flew over here on Monday to watch me at the Masters,” Min Woo said enthusiastically during the 2022 Masters.

Min Woo Lee’s family beyond the course

Min Woo’s personal life has been steady as well. Since 2019, he’s been in a long-term relationship with Gracie Drennan, a Perth native. A fashion design graduate, Drennan is a regular presence in Min Woo’s world. She’s there for him whenever she can, cheering from the sidelines of the ropes, and has even appeared with him in Netflix’s Full Swing.

Then there is his sister, Minjee Lee. Despite harboring an iconic career on the LPGA Tour, the dynamic between the brother-sister duo is filled with friendly rivalry and deep admiration. Minjee has always acknowledged how her brother’s energy pushes her to elevate her own game, while Min Woo credits his elder sister’s success as a roadmap for his own career. They might fight each other in sibling banters, but they still remain each other’s biggest fans. “Min Woo has a bit more of a rivalry with me than I do him, but I’ll always be his biggest supporter and I know he’s mine as well,” Minjee said once.

When Min Woo claimed his first PGA Tour victory at the 2025 Houston Open, Minjee’s pride was impossible to miss. She recalled watching the winning putt while on a flight, jumping with happiness as her little brother clinched the cup. “I think it’s just super cool and something we can tell the kids, grandkids,” Minjee said as reported by Sports Illustrated.

With that kind of anchored support in his life, Min Woo Lee keeps climbing the stairs of success. And at the end of it all, he’ll always have his parents to thank—the ones who first reflected golf back to him as something worth trying, and who opened the door to everything he’s achieved today.