Golf: Lee on top in Brazil

Kiwi golfer Danny Lee, looking for a return to golf's top flight, is giving himself a real chance of victory in the web.com Tour event this week in Brazil. Photo / Getty Images.

New Zealand professional Danny Lee has reverted back to how he putted as an amateur and it has propelled him into the outright lead of the inaugural Brazil Classic on the web.com tour.

The former US Amateur champion carded a second consecutive six under par 65 at the Sao Paulo Golf Club overnight to take sole possession of the lead in Brazil before play was suspended.

Lee was two shots ahead of Swedish golfer Richard Johnson, who was four under for the day and 10 under for the tournament after playing 11 holes in his second round.

Lee believed his turnaround in form was due to returning to a simple putting tip he used as one of New Zealand's leading amateurs.

"I've started using the line on my ball again. It's really helped me with my alignment,'' the 22-year-old told the web.com tour website.

"I was using it as an amateur and I'm not sure why I stopped. I used to just put the ball down and try to make a perfect stroke. Now, I don't worry about the line. All I've got to do is think about the distance.''

It has worked so far with Lee making eight birdies and two bogeys in his second round to be in a great position to win his first title since claiming the WNB Classic in Texas in 2011.

Lee has made a solid start to the 2013 season. He has made three out of four cuts and his best result came when he finished tied sixth at the Chile Classic in March. He also finished in a share of 13th place at the season opening Sony Open in Hawaii on the PGA Tour.

The former European Tour winner is back on the web.com tour after failing to keep his card on the PGA Tour in 2012. He missed out in qualifying school by only one shot.

Lee, who is currently 26th on the web.com tour money list, needs to finish inside the top 25 players to return to the PGA Tour in 2014.

Fellow Kiwi Tim Wilkinson is also right in the hunt in Brazil. The left hander from the Manawatu, who opened with a four under par 67, is three under through 10 holes to be on seven under par and in a share of third place.

The former PGA Tour professional, who is 16th on the web.com tour money list, is only five shots back from Lee.

Hamilton professional Steve Alker is in a share of 13th place after rounds of 67 and 70 to be five under par.

But the main interest is on the leader Lee to see if he can continue his form at the top of the leaderboard and claim his first title in almost two years.

-nzherald.co.nz