Rookie professional Danny Lee rued a missed opportunity to outscore world golf No 1 Tiger Woods in the opening round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio yesterday.
The New Zealand teenager bogeyed his final hole to sign for a two-under 68 in his maiden appearance in a World Golf Championship event.
Lee, 19 and the youngest player in the US$8.5 million ($12.6 million) tournament, ended the round in a six-way share of eighth place, tied with Woods and fellow American Hunter Mahan, Spaniards Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez and Australian Robert Allenby.
Irishman Padraig Harrington had sole ownership of the lead after posting a blemish-free 64.
Lee began the round from the 10th tee but walked off his first green with a bogey after his approach found a greenside bunker. The reigning Johnnie Walker Classic champion soon made amends by holing a 2.7m birdie putt at the par-four 11th.
He then moved to one-under when he holed a 9m birdie putt at the par-three 12th hole before improving to two-under by landing his second shot at the par-four 14th to within 3m of the pin and draining the putt.
A bogey followed at the 16th before Lee managed further birdies at the second and fourth holes. His main disappointment came from letting slip a chance to post 67 after bogeying his final hole.
But Lee was delighted with his overall efforts, featuring just 25 putts as he produced a more than tidy performance on the greens.
"I'm really happy with my round today. I had a few bad shots but I made a great up-and-down for bogey at the last hole," he said.
"I hit a good tee shot, but it kicked right into the dead stuff. But I am pretty impressed with myself and I am really happy with what I have done today.
"It would have been nice to finish on three under par but two under is a very good start and I can build on that." Lee found 10 of 14 fairways and it was this aspect of his game that he was eager to work on.
"Hopefully, I can get my driver working better because that was the only club that gave me any concern."
- NZPA
Golf: Lee's two-under round puts him level with Woods
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