The South Korean must have known it would be close, same as the low-scoring drama around him that included hometown favourite Jordan Spieth and a couple of other major winners in Hideki Matsuyama and Justin Thomas.

Lee's 240-yard shot on the par-5 12th hole stopped less than five feet from the pin, and the eagle put him in front for good on Sunday on the way to a nine-under 63 and a one-shot victory over Spieth.

"It still feels like I'm dreaming," Lee, a first-time winner as a father after his wife was pregnant when he won last year, said.

"Last year and this year, to make a good memory."

Spieth shot a 67 to finish a stroke ahead of Matsuyama (62) and Sebastian Munoz (69), who held or shared the lead the first three rounds. Xander Schauffele had a career-best 61 and tied for fifth with Ryan Palmer (66) and Thomas (67).

Adam Scott (65) was the best-placed Australian in a tie for 32nd at 16-under, while Marc Leishman (67) and Jason Day (66) finished at 13-under.

Leishman had the first hole-in-one of the day on the 213-yard 15th, landing a 7-iron short and watching it roll in. It was his second career ace and the first at the Nelson since Tyler Duncan in 2018.

RIGHT: Marc Leishman recorded a hole-in-one on the final day in Texas. PHOTO: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images.

Justin Lower recorded the second in the stadium setting on 17, landing a low 9-iron from 135 yards just right of the pin before the ball backed up and rolled in.

With short par-4s and reachable par-5s, the birdies never stopped at TPC Craig Ranch, the second-year home of the Nelson.

There were 2,228 birdies after 2,007 a year ago, which was the most on Tour last season. Eagles were plentiful, too. Last year, six players reached 20-under. This time it was 14.

A year ago, Lee was playing for a spot in the PGA Championship, where he'll be again this week at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

This time it was for a place in history as the 30-year-old joined Sam Snead (1957-58), Jack Nicklaus (1970-71) and Tom Watson (1978-80) as the only repeat winners at the Nelson. Lee finished at 26-under, one shot better than last year.

RELATED: Inside Lee's winning bag

Spieth had to settle for another career-best finish, a year after the three-time major champion was ninth, but never really close in a disappointing final round.

"I had a good chance here, I don't think I ever really had the lead on my own. But it would be nice to close one out." Spieth said.

Leading by one, Lee made a curling 12-foot putt to save par on the par-3 17th after a short chip ran long when Lee tried to find his footing in the sand with the ball above his feet just outside the bunker.

Spieth missed a nine-foot birdie putt on 17 that would have pulled him even, then had to make eagle on the par-5 18th after Lee's tap-in birdie. Spieth's eagle chip stayed left of the hole.