PGA Championship: ‘very happy’ K.H. Lee makes best start to major, four shots off leader Rory McIlroy
- In-form Korean star cards first round 1-under par 69 at Southern Hills Country Club
- Past winner Y.E. Yang and compatriot Si Woo Kim open with 71s to sit in tie for 38th
In-form Korean star K.H. Lee carded his lowest round in a major when he fired a 1-under 69 in the first round of the PGA Championship to lie four strokes back of leader Rory McIlroy.
The 30-year-old registered three birdies against two bogeys at Southern Hills to mark his first ever round in the 60s in his sixth career major start.
Lee who sits as the highest placed Asian golfer in the year’s second major at tied 16th place, came into the week after successfully defending his AT&T Byron Nelson title on the PGA Tour.
“Last week was a very happy time for me and my family, and hopefully I try to just keep the momentum well. Played well … I’m very happy now,” said Lee.
Compatriots Y.E. Yang, who delivered Asia’s first major victory at the 2009 PGA Championship, and Si Woo Kim, a three-time PGA Tour winner, opened with 71s for tied 38th position while Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama carded a 72. India’s Anirban Lahiri opened with a 73.
Lee has not broken par in his five previous starts in the majors where he has yet to make a cut. He shot 78 and 77 at the PGA Championship last year after his winning breakthrough at the Byron Nelson and missed the cut at the Masters last month following rounds of 74 and 75.
However, he is now riding on new-found form and confidence after going back to work with his old swing coach Chris Mayson, and his former mental trainer. He won last week with a winning total of 26-under.
“I try a new challenge,” Lee said. “Just try to keep my momentum. I want to always play well every week. Hopefully good for the whole week up until Sunday.”
He three-putted his first hole on the 10th for bogey before turning in even par by rolling in a 20-footer for birdie on 18. He converted putts of eight and six feet on the first and fifth holes for further gains, sandwiching a bogey on the second, when his approach found the greenside bunker.
