Golf: Lee getting down to business with new caddie

Danny Lee has lost the services of caddie Anthony Knight. Photo / AP

Danny Lee's handlers have moved quickly to plug a hole in the teen golfer's support team as he prepares for a particularly busy period on the PGA Tour in the United States.

The 18-year-old reigning US Amateur champion, who turned professional last month, last week lost the services of New Zealand caddie Anthony Knight.

Knight was uncomfortable with new work conditions imposed on him after it was felt that Lee would benefit from operating alongside a variety of bag handlers.

He had planned to be at Lee's side for the remainder of this year as the Korean-born New Zealand-raised prodigy seeks to win enough money to give him full playing status on the PGA Tour.

Instead, Knight is now seeking alternative employment while IMG, Lee's management company, has arranged for American Don Donatello to join the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic champion for the US$6.5 million ($11.08 million) Byron Nelson Championship starting at TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving, Texas, on Friday (NZT).

It will mark Lee's third start as a pro on the US circuit as his schedule begins to fill.

IMG account executive Kevin Lynch, who specialises in player management out of the company's office in Cleveland, Ohio, today said that Donatello would provide Lee with a fresh voice and a fresh set of eyes.

Donatello, out of Florida, has previously worked for the likes of Chris DiMarco, a three-time tour winner and two-time US Presidents Cup representative, Kevin Na and Eric Axley.

Lynch was keen to explain the reasoning behind Knight's departure.

"Because it is so early in Danny's pro career, he doesn't really know what he wants and what he doesn't want yet in a caddie," he said.

"We've suggested he tries out a couple of caddies to see what he likes.

"There was never anything personal regarding Anthony. It's more a product of finding out what sort of caddie best suits Danny.

"It is possible some time in the future that Danny and Anthony will start working together although I don't have a crystal ball. Certainly in Danny's mind, he has not ruled that out."

This week's Byron Nelson Championship begins a particularly active period for Lee, who has starts ahead at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in Texas, the Memorial Tournament in Ohio, Travellers Championship in Connecticut, AT&T National in Maryland and John Deere Classic in Illinois.

"He's definitely chomping at the bit and he's starting to play real good," Lynch said.

"When he made the cut at the Quail Hollow Championship (at the start of this month) you could tell that he felt like he had got a monkey off his back by making his first cut as a professional."

As a non-member of the PGA Tour Lee is allowed to play up to 12 events, no more than seven of them on sponsors or foreign exemptions.

As well, he earned starts in The Memorial, AT&T National and World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational by virtue of his US Amateur victory or his win in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth in February.

If he earns enough money to be ranked in the top 150 based on the 2008 moneylist (US$537,958) then Lee can take up temporary status on the tour and accept unlimited sponsors' exemptions. The ultimate goal is to finish in the top 125 to earn his full card for 2010.

That is a tough ask and something seldom accomplished although the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim worked their way through the system in precisely that manner.

Asked whether it is realistic for Lee to consider he can follow in their footsteps, Lynch said: "I don't think it is realistic in a lot of cases but in Danny's case I think it is very do-able.

"Because he has played in a lot of professional events, albeit as an amateur, he's had enough success in pro events."

- NZPA