It is not very common to find your name in golf’s history books alongside greats such as Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.

South Korea’s Lee Kyoung-hoon holds the honour following back-to-back triumphs at the AT&T Byron Nelson in 2022, which made him only the fourth player to successfully defend the historic tournament which dates back to 1944.

This week, Lee gets another crack to play his way into another page of the PGA Tour’s list of chronicles.

Securing a three-peat, or winning the same tournament in three successive years, is such a rare occurrence on Tour that only three golfers in the last 40 years have achieved the feat. American Steve Stricker was the last man to do so in 2011 at the John Deere Classic, which he also won in 2009 and 2010.

Australia’s Stuart Appleby was victorious at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii from 2004 to 2006, while the one and only Tiger Woods amazingly secured the three-peat at six different tournaments beginning with the Memorial Tournament (1999, 2000, 2001) during the height of his golfing prowess.

Lee, 31, likes his chances after dominating over the past two seasons at TPC Craig Ranch where he is an astounding 51 under, which is eight shots lower than the next best golfer over the same duration.

He is undaunted in his pursuit of more golfing history.

“I always have great memories here, and so lucky for the win last year. Nine under par on the last day, and then a really cool experience for me,” said Lee, who is ranked 44th in the world. “Honestly, very good pressure for me. I’m very thankful for that opportunity… (to try to be) three times in a row champion. I’ll try my best. If that happens, it’s really cool.”

TPC Craig Ranch has often been a birdie fest which fits Lee’s game to a tee. A total of 2,228 birdies and 104 eagles were recorded at TPC Craig Ranch in 2022, the most of any course on Tour last season.

Lee has made birdie or better on 81.3 per cent of the par fives in the past two years and is 27 under on those holes, the second lowest among the field. However, for the 2023 tournament, the par-five 547-yard 12th hole has been converted to a par-four challenge measuring 493 yards.

With generous fairways at the Tom Weiskopf-designed layout, Lee loves to open up his shoulders with his driver and his natural attacking flair then takes over. “I like this golf course. Course shape a little wide, and I like to try hard with my driver,” said Lee, who defeated home-town hero Jordan Spieth by a single shot in 2022.

“When I’m here, my putting is really good and I have confidence here, so that is key for me.”

Among the strong continent of Korean stars on Tour are Im Sung-jae, Tom Kim, Kim Si-woo, An Byeong-hun and Kim Seong-hyeon, Lee has a quiet confidence about him and in his own abilities. He also prides himself as the self-proclaimed “sexiest golfer on Tour”.

He enters the week with his confidence restored after finishing tied eighth at the Wells Fargo Championship last weekend, which was his first top 10 since the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii in January.

A big lift has come from a decision to start working with swing coach Grant Waite, who operates in Orlando where Lee is based in the United States with his young family. A two-week break before the Wells Fargo Championship also allowed him to focus on his putting technique – he ranked third in Strokes Gained: Putting last week as opposed to his current season rank of 62nd.

“A couple of months ago, I struggled with putting, but I think last week it was getting much better. I have confidence for putting and irons, so I think I’m ready for this week,” he said.

Come Sunday, Lee hopes to be the last man standing again in what is poised to be another exciting showdown against the likes of world No. 2 Scottie Scheffler and his dream would be to see his daughter, Celine Yuna, running up to him on the 18th green.

“Yuna walks and runs well now, so if I make the winning putt, I hope she runs and hugs me. I’ll be so happy,” he said.

• Chuah Choo Chiang is senior director, marketing and communications – APAC, for the PGA TOUR and is based in Malaysia.