Danny Lee takes Greenbrier Classic

Danny Lee won The Greenbrier Classic in a tense playoff

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Edited by Anand Datla

 

July 06, 2015: After the four players about to enter Sunday’s playoff at The Greenbrier Classic had drawn the slips of paper that determined the order in which they’d tee off on the first extra hole, Danny Lee’s caddie took his boss’ and deposited it in the signature wishing well at the center of the trophy.

 

“He put it there so I can win it,” Lee later said with a grin. Turns out, the 24-year-old was equal to the task. Lee was the victor in a playoff that featured David Hearn, Kevin Kisner and Robert Streb. All had finished regulation at 13 under.

 

“I was just trying to calm down,” Lee said, recalling his emotions as the playoff began. “I was so nervous. My head was blank and I was just trying to breathe. As soon as I stand on the 18th tee box, first playoff (hole), I felt ready. “I felt like I could really win this thing.”

 

Kisner, who was participating in his third playoff of the season, and Streb were eliminated first after missing the green at the par 3. Lee drained an 18-footer for birdie there and Hearn matched him from 16 to send the playoff to another hole.

 

Lee went on to tap-in for a two-putt par on the second playoff hole, the par-5 17th, to seal the victory. It was the third playoff in the six-year history of The Greenbrier Classic and the 14th on TOUR this year.

 

Hearn, meanwhile, had put himself behind the eight-ball on the second playoff hole when he hit his drive behind a tree and his second shot into the tall grass above a fairway bunker. The Canadian was able to get his third shot back out onto the short grass and his fourth shot landed about a foot right of the pin but continued over the green and down into the shaved area.

 

He then missed the 28-footer to save par and send the playoff to another hole. “Real proud of the way I made the putt to extend the playoff and continued to give myself a chance,” Hearn said. “Just didn’t go my way on that 17th hole. I hit a bad tee shot. That was probably the only bad tee shot I hit all day. I’ve just got to keep giving myself chances like this, and it’s going to happen soon.”

 

The Greenbrier Classic was Lee’s 27th event of the season. Lee, who was born in South Korea but now lives in New Zealand and is a citizen there, said he loves to play golf — but he has additional motivation this year.

 

“The reason I played so many events was I was really trying to make it into the Presidents Cup this year,” Lee said. “It’s back in Korea. That’s where I’m born. I kind of feel like I was playing good but not good enough to win a golf tournament, but this week for some reason I just felt right.”

 

David Hearn, Danny Lee, James Hahn and Greg Owen are headed to St. Andrews in two weeks thanks to the Open Championship Qualifying Series.

 

Invitations were available to the four players in the top 12 not otherwise qualified. Bryce Molder had a chance to grab the final spot from Owen with a birdie at the 18th hole but his putt came up several inches short.

 

Lee and Hahn will be making their Open Championship debuts. Hearn played in his first Open a year ago at Royal Liverpool and tied for 32nd. For Owen, this will be his eighth appearance with a tie for 22nd in 2006 his best finish.

 

Four players — Luke Donald, Carl Pettersson, Brian Harman and Graham DeLeat — earned the four available spots at last week’s Travelers Championship. The highest finisher among the top-five at next week’s John Deere Classic, not otherwise exempt, will get the final spot available in the United States.

 

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Source: PGA TOUR

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