Golf: Lee starts with a fizzle

New Zealand golfer Danny Lee launched his professional career in forgettable fashion today when shooting a four-over-par 76 in the opening round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the United States.

Lee's coming out party fizzled at TPC Louisiana, the latest stop on the PGA Tour, as he shared 149th place in a 156-strong field with close to half of the field back in the clubhouse.

The 18-year-old reigning US Amateur champion, already signed to a lucrative management deal by industry heavy hitters IMG, struggled off the tee in elite company, finding just 50 per cent of fairways and hitting only 50 per cent of the greens in regulation in the opening 18 holes of the US$6.2 ($11.3) million tournament.

Lee had a rough start despite birdying three of the opening nine holes. Those pluses did not make up for a triple bogey seven at the fourth and a double bogey at the fifth.

The 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic champion, Lee settled into his work on the journey home, which he completed in one-over after a double bogey six at the 15th was followed by his fourth birdie of the day on the penultimate hole.

Lee was not alone in having issues, being joined on 76 by Canadian Stephen Ames and German Alex Cejka, who were all 10 strokes behind the early leader, Charlie Wi, of South Korea.

The second New Zealander in the field, left-hander Tim Wilkinson, was among the later starters, and was one-under for his round leaving the fourth green.

- NZPA