Golf: Lee drops after disappointing last round

Danny Lee finished the Quail Hollow Championship in a share of 38th place. Photo / AP

New Zealand golfer Danny Lee dropped five shots on the last six holes at the Quail Hollow Championship in North Carolina to finish with a share of 38th place in just his second start as a pro.

Fourteenth equal after three rounds, Lee's fourth round 76 saw him finish on two under par 286 for prizemoney of around US$25,000 ($44,000), nine shots behind winner Sean O'Hair.

Fellow American Bubba Watson shared second with Lucas Glover on 278, while Tiger Woods was a further shot astray in fourth place on 279.

Lee had shared the lead several times against the high class PGA Tour field assembled for the Quail Hollow Championship.

The 18-year-old United States amateur champion pulled to within four shots of the lead after two rounds, compiling a stellar three-under-par 69 to vault into 17th place.

But disaster struck over the difficult closing stretch in Lee's final two rounds - he faded somewhat for a disappointing two under 70 in the third round, then carded a disastrous four over 76 today.

Lee picked up two early bogeys at the fourth and sixth today before drawing even with birdies at the seventh and 10th. His last six holes comprised just one par and a birdie, and he went into the 18th battling with three bogeys after his putter let him down at the 13th, 14th and 17th.

Things only got worse at the par four 18th, when he hit into the rough off the tee, then found the water for a penalty stroke before finally reaching the green with his fourth and two-putting for a double bogey.

Lee made his professional debut last week at the TPC Louisiana in New Orleans, a second round 75 combining with his first round 76 for a seven over par 151, and a share of 137th place in a 156-strong field.

- NZPA