Golf: Lee off his game at Memorial

New Zealand golfer Danny Lee had a round to forget in the Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour in the United States today.

Making his fifth appearance in the paid ranks, the 18-year-old was well off his game as he posted a seven-over-par 79 in the first round at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.

Lee ended a distant 15 strokes behind the leader, Englishman Luke Donald, who streaked around the 6643m par-72 layout with a scintillating 64.

It represented the worst round recorded by the reigning US Amateur champion since he turned professional in April.

Lee struggled from the outset today, a double bogey six at the second hole setting the tone as he went on to shell shots at the sixth, ninth, 13th, 14th and last holes.

He was particularly ill at ease with his putter and ended the round requiring 35 putts as he fell to a share of 107th place in a field of 119.

World No 1 Tiger Woods later said the greens became very fast in the middle of his round when he estimated they were at 12 on the stimpmeter, the device which gauges green speed.

Woods looked poised to challenge Donald after moving to three-under leaving the seventh green, but he was still on that number at the end, his 69 leaving the American ninth equal.

- NZPA