The ‘links swing’ a favourite period for fans who get to see players take on an entirely different challenge to the regular diet of manicured layouts where distance through the air is one of primary skill sets on display.

It’s not just the fans either, with Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth among those spotted playing the links of North Berwick this week, while Min Woo Lee took an early trip to Royal Liverpool and is back at the site of his 2021 Scottish Open triumph.

“I love it because you can hit a lot of shots and that’s what I like to do,” Lee said of links golf. “It’s a playmakers kind of course and you have to plot your way around and I really like that type of golf and it’s not just hit driver everywhere. It’s quite important to golf your ball, and play some good shots.

“It’s different, which is nice too. It’s fun.”

That attitude towards the game in its birthplace was on clear display two years ago when Lee rocketed into calculations for the Scottish Open title with six birdies in a row on Sunday to ultimately take the title.

That victory, his second on the DP World Tour after the Vic Open the previous year, will provide some good memories as he continues to chase a full PGA Tour card, either via his Special Temporary Membership or courtesy of the top-10 spots on the European circuit’s money list.

“It was a really good win that week, it happened really quick. I wasn’t really close to winning, even on the Saturday,” Lee said.

“It’s just nice to come back to a course I have some success on and it’s nice to be in some form as well.”

RIGHT: Lee holds the Scottish Open trophy aloft in 2021 at Renaissance. PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

The mission to get a PGA Tour card sits at the back of mind for Lee, with the West Australian knowing good play will take care of all the permutations, while his form has taken different modes in recent weeks.

Entering this week after a week off when he played Royal Liverpool on Tuesday, Wednesday and attended The Ashes at Headingley, the 24-year-old was tied for 15th at the British Masters after recording shares of ninth and fifth at the Travelers Championship and U.S Open respectively.

His result at The Belfry showing a growing maturity from Min Woo, who entered the week as one of the favourites.

“My attitude wasn’t that good for the first two days, I was jetlagged, and I was a bit moody and small things would kind of affect me, and then slowly got into the rounds better on Saturday and Sunday and ended up with a top-15 finish, which is actually not too bad,” he said.

“The good stuff is I had the grit to make some birdies when I needed to and finish pretty strong. It was good prep for this week and hopefully this week is good for next week.”

“I love it because you can hit a lot of shots and that’s what I like to do … It’s different, which is nice too. It’s fun.” – Min Woo Lee.

Although he will be certainly focused on this week and potentially another Scottish Open title, Lee is now entering the level of player that has one eye towards the week after and once again contending for a major championship.

Recording two top-20 finishes from three majors in 2023, as well as his T6 at The Players, the ever confident Lee knows he belongs at the game’s biggest events, and his play has earned him a growing legion of fans around the globe.

None of that has changed his attitude, however, with his personal motto a great strength, along with his renowned ‘stinger’, across the sometimes fickle, albeit fun, links.

“Just hitting the right shots at the right time and not going against what got you to that stage. Not forcing anything and just letting it flow is the motto.”