Golf: Lee runs hot with matchplay win before Masters showdown

New Zealand amateur golfer Danny Lee tuned up for his maiden Masters appearance by beating British amateur champion Reiner Saxton in the US yesterday.

Lee, the reigning US amateur champion, beat Saxton 2 and 1 in the Georgia Cup, an 18-hole matchplay contest north of Atlanta.

The Cup match has been held since 1998 and was won the following year by current world No 2 Sergio Garcia, of Spain.

Lee built a 2-up lead at the turn and closed out Saxton, of the Netherlands, with a par on the 17th hole for a 2-and-1 victory.

"The course was fantastic," Lee said. "I think it will be great preparation for the Masters, playing greens this fast."

Saxton, 21, will also be at Augusta National next week and plans to turn pro this year.

Lee took control with a 3-wood from the rough that carried 250 yards over a bunker to within 4.5m, setting up a two-putt birdie on the ninth hole for a 2-up lead. Saxton birdied the 10th hole, but hit his next tee shot out-of-bounds and never got any closer.

Lee, 18, signs off his unprecedented amateur career at the Masters, the first of this year's majors starting next Friday.

He has been invited to contest the opening two rounds in the company of world No 1 Tiger Woods after becoming the first New Zealander and the youngest player in history to win the US Amateur last August.

Lee will then have his first outing as a professional at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a PGA Tour event starting on April 23.

Lee has already earned his full playing rights in Europe and Asia after winning the tri-sanctioned Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth in February.

He played his last tournaments in New Zealand last month, finishing in a tie for seventh at the PGA Championship in Christchurch before missing the cut the following week at the New Zealand Open.

- NZPA