Golf: Lee's rise continues with share of lead in Florida

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Kiwi professional Danny Lee has continued his revival on the PGA Tour.

The 23-year-old, who finished runner-up at the Puerto Rico Open last week for his best finish on the tour, carded a three-under 68 yesterday in trying conditions at the Valspar Championship to be in a four-way share of the lead.

Lee, playing in the last group, shared the round one honours with Americans Matt Every, Pat Perez and Australian Greg Chalmers.

It is a remarkable run for Lee, who has turned his season around in the past two weeks.

The former US Amateur champion had missed every cut this year, and six straight dating to the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico last November.

That changed last week in the Puerto Rico Open when he posted all four rounds in the 60s to finish second to American Chesson Hadley by two strokes.

That got him into the field at Innisbrook, where he got three birdies in five holes to start his round and was the only player all day with four-under par, with a birdie on the par five first. He dropped his only shot on No 6. "I gained a lot of confidence after last week playing with the finish in Puerto Rico," Lee told the PGA Tour.

"It really helped me a lot with that confidence stuff, and I'm hitting it really well right now. My ball striking is the best it's ever been, especially with the putting," he said.

"I got the new claw grip, still working great, which is fantastic."

Only 25 players managed to break par yesterday and Lee said the course was a real championship test.

He had never been to the Copperhead, which is rated by many as the best tournament course in Florida.

He played a practice round on Tuesday and jokingly said he would have shot about a 90.

"I was shocked how hard it was." On the current standings Lee is projected to climb 65 places on the Fed Ex Cup money list to No 14.

The former World No 1 amateur, who as an amateur was the youngest winner on the European Tour, is enjoying his best run on the PGA Tour as he looks to fulfil his long-heralded promise.