Golf: Danny Lee's strong form continues on PGA Tour

New Zealand's Danny Lee . Photo / NZPA/Martin Hunter.

Danny Lee's strong form on the PGA Tour has continued, sitting in a tie for seventh after the first round of the Crowne Plaza Invitiational.

After a tumultuous front nine saw Lee record just one par - shooting five birdies and three bogies - he settled down on the back nine with just the two solitary birdies rounding out a four-under par 66.

Lee sits two shots off the lead shared by Kevin Na, Boo Weekley, Ryo Ishikawa and Masters champion Jordan Spieth, while Brit Ian Poulter is just one shot further back.

The round puts Lee well on track to make his fourth cut in his last five tournaments, which includes a tie for 22nd at the Zurich Classic and a 13th place finish at last weekend's Wells Fargo Championship.

Those results have helped move the 24-year-old to 57th on the PGA Tour money list, having earned over $1million ($US) this season, while he also sits snugly at 56th on the FedEx Cup rankings.

Lee has also claimed back his Kiwi number one spot in the Official Golf World Rankings, sitting in 176th - the highest he has been ranked since May 2012.

Meanwhile, the man Lee surpassed as the number one ranked New Zealand golfer - Ryan Fox - is also performing well, leading after the first round of the SK Telecom Open on the OneAsia Tour.

Fox shot a four-under par 68 to lead the way at the conclusion of the first day, with fellow Kiwi Gareth Paddison also in the mix at two-under par.