Lee entered the final day as the leading Australian, with a record-equalling final round comeback needed to win the Wanamaker trophy, and after birdie at the 1st hole had things moving in the right direction.

Bogey at the 4th was followed by more of the same at the 6th and 12th on a day where the sun finally shone on Oak Hill Country Club and Brooks Koepka would eventually walk away with a fifth major title.

Lee closed with a birdie at the 72nd hole for a final round 71 to finish on two-over-par for the championship and in a share of 18th, his second best finish at a major after a T14 on debut at Augusta National in 2022.

The 24-year-old’s result was enough to push him into a Special Temporary Membership of the PGA Tour (needing only a solo 27th or better), the West Australian’s outwardly stated goal of playing in America closer than ever before.

Special temporary members of the PGA Tour can receive unlimited sponsor invites for the season in which the category was earned, unlike the maximum of seven for non-members.

From those sponsor invites, and other tournaments he will receive starts in – such as majors and co-sanctioned events with the DP World Tour where he is a two-time winner – Lee will need to earn the same number of points, or more, as the 125th ranked player at season’s end (including "Fall" events) to earn full status for 2024.

Special Temporary Membership does not allow players to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs, however, if Lee was to win an event on the PGA Tour he would become a member and able to play the lucrative end of season series.

Kiwi Ryan Fox also achieved the same feat with his share of 23rd that eclipsed the two-way tie for 59th or better that he needed.