Lee, who spoke with Australian media on Tuesday morning having just completed a first loop of the front nine of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass owns a game almost tailor made for the Pete Dye layout. And he will have some handy insight compiled when the gun goes off on Thursday.

The West Australian’s Monday hit was in the company of two-time major winner Collin Morikawa, while his planned exploration of the back nine on Tuesday local time will be alongside two former Players winners.

“I'm just thankful to get into the tournament,” Lee said. “I played the front nine today and I'll play the back nine with Adam Scott and Jason Day tomorrow. So I'm really excited to play the back nine and especially those finishing holes are going to be special.”

Scott has become a regular playing partner for Lee on practise days, the Queenslander something of mentor to the 24-year-old who continues to work towards playing rights on the PGA Tour while managing his schedule on the DP World Tour where he is a two-time winner.

Lee had another chance last week to push that cause at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and potentially secure a Masters invite via the same category that earnt him a start this week, a prospect he admits is in the back of his mind.

“I’ve still got a lot of experiencing and a lot of golf to go. But, yeah, I think the good golf is there … Hopefully one of these weeks is your week and you finish on top.” - Min Woo Lee.

That chance to move up the rankings failed to materialise for Lee though, with a first missed cut of the year having started promisingly with a runner-up in Abu Dhabi followed by two more strong showings.

Not to be deterred, Lee was still able to find positives from his rounds of 75-79 around Bay Hill in difficult conditions.

“I have been playing very good. One thing I really had to get better at was my approach game,” Lee said. “Even though I didn't play that well last week, I was top-20 in the approach play for the first two rounds. So that's a very big step forward for myself and my team. Hopefully, I can drive it a little bit better than last week and keep going.”

Approach play was an area of focus for Lee over the summer when he spent time back at home in Western Australia, working with his coach Ritchie Smith.

The work to improve his approach play was focused around a steep delivery and “chicken wing”, something most golfers can relate too. Lee himself receiving his own relatable example of PGA Tour success last week when Kurt Kitayama took the trophy and cardigan at Arnie’s place.

“Me and Kurt met about, I think it was in Oman when it was like my first year out. So it was only like the first few months of the year. Then we just started being really close in tournaments and having practise rounds and going to dinner,” he said.

“I saw him today. It's amazing to see like a good friend win such a big event against obviously the biggest pros out there and the best pros. So it is nice to see a friend do so well. Obviously the prize money is nice, so he can pay for dinner next time.”

Beyond the benefit of a free dinner, Kitayama’s win is yet another boost in confidence that Lee has what it takes to not only compete, but win on the PGA Tour.

“I definitely think I belong out here. Obviously courses like last week are so tough and I still got a lot of experiencing and a lot of golf to go. But, yeah, I think the good golf is there. I make tons of birdies and I hit it a long way and I've been hitting it a lot better. But just getting all four rounds together, it's tough.

“It's just like you just go through the motions and hopefully one of these weeks is your week and you finish on top.”