[Photo: Getty images]

After a wickedly early wake up call that Min Woo Lee joked “should be illegal”, the Australian star battled his way into the mix after a solid first round at the Open Championship.

Perhaps it affected Lee’s opening few holes, having two bogeys in the first three, but the three-time DP World Tour winner bounced back with a birdie at the fourth. A double-bogey 6 came at the brutal par-4 11th, before the 25-year-old rallied with three birdies in his last four holes to enjoy a colourful even-par 71.

“My caddie and I knew it was going to be a tough day, especially the back nine is really tough,” Lee said after his round. “I just made a quick double [on] one of the hardest holes on the course. I managed to hit a lot of good shots on the back nine, the last four, five, six holes, and converted them. I was getting close. My putts would feel like the putts I’ve just missed, where it read well but just left short. I just needed to hit it harder and they went in. I had a good finish, so lunch will taste a little bit better.”

At the completion of the morning wave, Lee was just three shots behind clubhouse leader, two-time PGA champion Justin Thomas at three-under (68). Lee’s fellow Australian was the best of the Australians at one-under.

Lee said he was looking forward to a sleep-in Friday for his 12.20pm local (9.20pm Friday AEST) tee time in round two.

“I went to sleep at 8.30pm [Wednesday night]; it was early,” Lee said after his round. “I can’t complain. I wasn’t even the first group. I was first group one day in 2022 at St Andrews, and that was like a 3am wakeup. I don’t know, it feels illegal (laughter). I guess we’re used to it. That’s a bit extreme, but it’s The Open. It’s supposed to be difficult.”

He said he would take it easy in the 24 hours he had off between rounds as he attempts to climb further up the leaderboard on day two.

“I’ll just hang out, maybe go to the gym, and hit some balls. I won’t try to sit down too much. Just enjoy and have fun.”