In an interview with Radio Sport's Tee Time, the 28-year-old Lee opened up about the mental and physical challenges he went through during the season.
"I could've gone a lot better but I've been going through some really tough times this year," Lee said.
"The family issues and the body – I got injured on the third playoff event last year and I was still recovering in the early beginning of the season.
"It wasn't the year I wanted but I'm not out of it. I got another shot at it next year and I'll be way better than what I did this year."
Listen to "Danny Lee with Phil Tataurangi" on Spreaker.
Lee said competing on the PGA Tour was a lifestyle that isn't for everybody, and that he himself has at times found it difficult to cope with the daily grind.
"People gotta understand it's not just for everybody. And when things are not going your way, for life in general, it tears you down," he said.
"Whenever I have a week off, I don't just sit on my couch and watch TV. I wake up early in the morning, take supplements, take arginine, protein shakes, hit the gym, practice, hit balls, short game, just non-stop, just fighting and non-stop putting so much work in.
"I sometimes think when things are not going my way I don't know why I keep doing this. It is a tough life."
But Lee was also looking forward to the future, especially the arrival of his first child with his partner Yoomi Kong.
"[When] Yoomi told me she was pregnant, that was right after LA, I think I missed the cut by one or two there and I was obviously a little disappointed but she actually changed my life when she actually said that.
"And we are both very excited, a little bit worried and hopefully he's a little bit better than me because I was a trouble maker when I was a kid. But hopefully he's more on his mother's side."