Lee cruises into US Amateur semi-finals
BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2008 US Amateur Championship | Quarter-Finals | 23 Aug 2008
A few hours before the start of semi-finals at the US Amateur championships in Pinehurst there was confusion whether Danny Lee would take the first tee in his match against Morgan Hoffmann.
The world number one was in the middle of a practice drive on the range and felt a twinge in his shoulder. He was in pain. Immediately championship officials arranged treatment and called in a physio to attend to Lee’s shoulder.
After some quick ice treatment and manipulation, Lee was ready.
“I’ve played a lot of golf lately,” said Lee.
“I was in my back swing and felt a click in my shoulder. Maybe I’m just getting a little tired.”
Lee has subjected himself to what many other players would consider a brutal schedule, yet the 18-year-old has taken it in his stride. It’s seen him playing tournament golf for the last eleven weeks on the run, including the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship. He’s covered countless miles with his uncle Rambert Sim to all parts of the US, yet his game remains remarkably strong.
There were no signs of fatigue this morning as Lee made three birdies in the first six holes and was 4 up at that stage in his encounter with Hoffmann. Lee would go on to claim the match 4&3 and set up a semi-final encounter with Patrick Reed.
“The first five holes I was a bit worried and my shoulder was sore,” Lee said. “After that the medicine kicked in and I was feeling better and starting to play a lot better.”
Should Lee win the US Amateur on Sunday afternoon he’ll be the youngest winner in history, beating Tiger Woods by six months when he won his first of three championship titles in 1994.
Partick Reed, Lee’s semi-final opponent is ranked 117 in the world with his best major amateur performance a runner-up finish at the 2007 St Augustine Amateur in Florida.
The upper-half of the draw has Drew Kittleson ranked 87 in the world, who finished 4th recently at the Southern Amateur and Adam Mitchell ranked 16 in the world and winner of the Porter Cup in July.
To get out fast in his match play encounters has been a distinctive trait of Lee this season. It was noticeable at the Australian Amateur in April as Lee aggressively attacked the Royal Adelaide layout and stunned Australia’s top ranked amateur, Matthew Griffin, in their quarter-final match. Since then Lee has continued from strength to strength.
At Pinehurst this week Lee has lost just 7 holes in match play. The hardest Lee has been pushed in the championship was this mornings quarter-final, where Lee disposed of Morgan Hoffmann 4&3, mirroring his efforts at the Western Amateur when the two last met. Lee has yet to play holes 16-18 in any of his first four matches.
“I’m feeling ok,” said Lee this evening.
“My shoulder is settling down after this morning and I’ll be right for tomorrow.”
