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Huge contingent in red chef hats following Min Woo Lee at WM Phoenix Open is not exactly what it seems

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Everywhere you look at TPC Scottsdale on Friday, there’s a bizarre sight: A group of several dozen men, all dressed in white khakis, blue polos and red chef hats. Each of the polos is Lululemon brand, and each of the hats reads “Let him cook” — the catch phrase of world No. 39 Min Woo Lee. As they followed Lee, they broke out into chants of “Let him cook” and “Min Woo Lee” with each shot from their purported hero.

By the fourth hole of his second round, when Lee tallied an eagle and a birdie in quick succession, the group had earned a following of its own. When other fans asked, their story was that they met online and were die-hard fans of Lee, a 25-year-old Australian who has broken out in recent years.

The real story is a bit less fun: It’s all a part of a marketing stint from Lululemon. The athletic wear brand, which recently expanded into golf, sponsors Lee and hosted an event with him at the Scottsdale Quarter near Kierland Commons earlier this week.

Last November, Lee put on a chef’s hat on the 17th green to celebrate with fans and honor his “Let him cook” social media mantra that took off during the Players Championship.

Story originally appeared on GolfWeek