New Zealand No.1 golfer Danny Lee has struggled on the first day of the Northern Trust Open with a four over par 75 at the Riviera Country Club in California to be in a share of 101st place.
Lee made three double bogeys and two birdies to be nine shots back from leader American Phil Mickelson, who continued his fine form from Pebble Beach with a five under 66.
Lee, who has made two cuts from five events so far in 2012, is under pressure to make the weekend at Riviera. Last week he had his best finish this year on the PGA Tour when he finished in a tie of 25th at Pebble Beach to earn US$51,000.
The news was much better for fellow New Zealand professionals Ryan Fox and Gareth Paddison, who are in a share of the lead after scores of four under par 67 in round one of the Victorian PGA Championship at the Forest Resort course.
Fox, the New Zealand strokeplay champion who is in his first season as a professional, made six birdies and two bogeys to claim a four-way share of the lead.
