Danny Lee came up with his first PGA Tour win on Sunday because he didn’t make any huge mistakes in the playoff that many expected.
It was a routine two-putt par from 60-feet at the long par five 17th that notched it for Lee.
The day started with four tied for the lead but once again the 54-hole curse of the Greenbrier held up as none of the overnight leaders were able to earn a spot in the playoff.
Instead, it was Lee (67), Canadian David Hearn (67), Kevin Kisner (64) and Robert Streb (65) finishing regulation play at 13-under par, 267.
Streb and Kisner got in trouble right off the bat at the first playoff hole, the 188-yard par three 18th. Both missed the green, Kisner had the worst of it. It took him three more shots to get his ball on the green out of the tall grass. Streb managed to get within six feet.
But both watched as Hearn and Lee basically hit their tee shots in close proximity to where they hit them on the 72nd hole. Both knew what their putts did and accordingly, both holed their 15-footers for birdie, sending Streb and Kisner to the club house.
Hearn and Lee both hit poor tee shots at 17 but Hearn drew the worst of it, landing behind a large tree while Lee was so far left that he had an open shot. Hearn then got the bad break that would cost him a shot at his first PGA Tour win. His second stopped in the front wall of a fairway bunker. He had to lay up short then his fourth went over the green.
Lee’s third from 190-yards out was well short but he had no problem two-putting from 60 feet for the win.
Lee seemed stunned by his good play and good fortune.
“Wow, all I can say is wow,” exclaimed the 24-year-old from South Korea who lives in New Zealand. He was the 2008 U.S. Amateur champion and now he’s moved into another category on the PGA Tour — winner. “It feels amazing,” Lee continued. “I’ve been so close so many times this year.”
