While many of golf’s biggest names are preparing for next week’s Ryder Cup, two familiar faces sit atop the leaderboard with three rounds in the books at the 2025 FedEx Open de France.
LIV Golf star Brooks Koepka and PGA Tour upstart Min Woo Lee share the 54-hole lead at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Breteche in Paris, where Koepka turned in the lowest round of the day Saturday, a 6-under 65 which included a stretch of five straight birdies on the back nine.
“I feel like my game has been trending in the right direction,” Koepka said. “It’s just the results haven’t been there. I’m pleased with the work I’ve put in over the last few months so hopefully got a chance to win tomorrow.”
The results haven’t been there, no doubt. Koepka went winless on LIV Golf in 2025 and cracked the top ten just three times in 13 starts while missing the cut at all but one major, the U.S. Open, where he finished 12th. Ultimately, the disappointing outings kept him off the U.S. Ryder Cup Team.
But, as he said himself, his game is rounding into shape, most notably on the greens. Koepka was third in putts per GIR during Saturday’s third round — a great sign for a player who’s struggled with his flatstick all year.
“I’ve felt very uncomfortable over the putts pretty much all year, just a little bit of hand position. We’ve got it sorted now where I feel like I’m striking the putts very well, hitting them on line and feeling confident and that’s honestly half the battle.”
Koepka, a five-time major champion, will look to nab his first professional victory since LIV Golf Greenbrier in August 2024, where he defeated Jon Rahm in a playoff, but standing in his way will be Lee, who joined the PGA Tour’s winner’s circle for the first time this year and looks to build more momentum heading into next season.
Lee fired a 5-under 66 on Thursday and followed it up with 68s on Friday and Saturday to enter the final round at 11 under, tied with Koepka for the lead.
“Just pretty solid again, I didn’t do anything spectacular in the back nine, just hung in there,” said Lee.
The spectaculars were largely reserved for Lee’s first nine, which included a 37-foot bomb for birdie on the par-3 third hole to chip away at the 36-hole lead held by England’s Marcus Armitage, who led by two to start Saturday’s third round but signed for an even-par 71 to drop into a three-way tie for second at 10 under with Michael Kim and Guido Migliozzi.
Lee, a 27-year-old from Australia, looks to capture his fourth win on the DP World Tour after breaking through on the PGA Tour earlier this season with a victory at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
“You can really get away with the moment,” Lee said. “You’ve just got to keep hitting shots and keep mentally strong. You’ve just got to keep going until the end.”
Koepka and Lee tee off in the final pairing at 6:20 a.m. ET Sunday in Paris.
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