Golf: Lee continues Invitational freefall

Rookie golf professional Danny Lee has slipped further down the leaderboard at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational after a difficult third round.

The New Zealand 19-year-old shot a five-over-par 75 to lie in a five-way tie for 61st at the Firestone Country Club course in Akron, Ohio.

Following his 73 yesterday, Lee could manage only one birdie in the third round and his scorecard was blighted by four bogeys and a double bogey on the par-4 ninth hole.

His putter, which caused him consternation in the second round, again proved troublesome with 31 putts required on the slippery greens.

Lee started the round in a share of 36th, eight shots off the pace in the US$8.5 million ($12.9 million) World Golf Championship event which featured no halfway cut.

But his 75 leaves him six-over-par on 216, 16 shots behind leader Ireland's Padraig Harrington.

Harrington, who shot a three-under-par 67 leads Tiger Woods by three strokes.

- NZPA