K.H. Lee Flies Under The Radar — Takes Nelson From Jordan Spieth

There were a lot of eyeballs on a couple of Dallas guys Sunday afternoon at TPC Craig Ranch — they were expecting a head-to-head battle between hometown darling Jordan Spieth and Big-D  newcomer Sebastian Munoz — but it was defending champion K.H. Lee who spoiled the party and snuck in under the radar at the Byron Nelson.

There were two defining moments that determined the final course of this battle — and it was an intense one — the temperature was high (mid-90s) but the scores were low –really low.

Spieth looked to have matters firmly in hand.  He overcame a pair of bogeys over his first three holes with five front nine birdies that had him at 24-under at the turn.  At the 10th, he bombed his tee shot 368 yards.  You read that right.  The heat had the golf balls flying and Spieth has gotten longer off the tee.  He had just 88 yards left and stuck his approach just outside six feet.  The crowd went nuts — surely a Spieth birdie would take him to 25-under and set him on the path to victory.

But then Spieth did what Spieth has done too often the past couple of years.  He got a bit frisky — missed the birdie and left himself a fancy three-footer for par.  He shoved the putt and made bogey.  Spieth seemed to sense what that meant.  He pulled off his cap, wiped his forehead and rolled his eyes.  Instead of 25-under, he was back at 23 — he created his own two-shot swing in the wrong direction.

Up ahead Lee, who had saved par at 10 with a clutch 11-footer — hit the shot of the day at the par five 12th where his second stopped just outside four-feet from the cup.  He holed that one for eagle then birdied 13 and it was Lee who got himself to 25-under — his winning number this time last year.

Xander Schauffele blistered the course earlier with an 11-under par 61 that got him to 23-under — close but not good enough.

Then Masters champ Hideki Matsuyama threw a 62 on the board.  That got him to 24-under — close but not good enough.

Once Lee got to 25, he put it in full grind mode.  His defining moment, aside from the eagle-birdie at 12 and 13 — came at the par three 17th where his tee shot on the short par three came up short and left him with a difficult pitch.  His ball scooted 12 feet past the hole — it was no time for a bogey.  Lee then holed the clutch par-saver, hit two great shots into the par five 18th and two-putted for a closing birdie and a round of 63.  His 26-under total was better than last year’s winning number.

That left Spieth and Munoz in chase/struggle mode.  After a birdie at 14, Spieth was still two shots back.  Munoz, after a birdie of his own at 14, was still three back.

While Lee waited with his family, the final group tried in vain to catch him.

Munoz need double-eagle that 18.  That wasn’t happening.  He settled for par and 24-under.

Spieth needed eagle and that didn’t happen.  He settled for birdie and 25-under.

Spieth wanted this one badly.  This event was his first PGA Tour appearance as a 16-year-old and Dallas has long been his hometown.  AT&T is the presenting sponsor and Spieth is their primary brand ambassador.  Jordy had to settle for solo second.

If you believe there are horses for courses, then they should probably re-name with one the TPC Lee Ranch.  Lee has two PGA Tour victories — both at this course, this event.

Obviously, K.H. Lee has made it his personal playground.

Byron Nelson Scoreboard: