Lee relishes 1st Tour win at Greenbrier

Danny Lee struggles to hoist the Greenbrier Classic trophy after Sunday’s win in a two-hole sudden-death playoff.

 

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Other than being draped in a too-large champions’ jacket, and needing a companion to share the resort’s amenities, Danny Lee seemed perfectly suited for his Greenbrier Classic victory.

The youngest U.S. Amateur winner back in 2008, Lee had not won in 96 PGA events and lost his tour card after a barren 2012. Those dry days were all but forgotten Sunday, obscured by his mile-wide smile after a breakthrough win in a four-man playoff.

“Wow, now I can say I know what it feels like,” Lee said.

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His par on the second playoff hole defeated David Hearn after both sank birdie putts to eliminate Robert Streb and Kevin Kisner on the first extra hole. The four finished regulation deadlocked at 13 under, creating the fourth playoff in the Greenbrier’s six-year history.

Lee pocketed $1.2 million, nearly doubling his professional earnings and reaffirming his hunger to play a heavy schedule. Born in South Korea before moving to New Zealand, the struggles of three years ago had him wondering if he’d ever win. With too many thoughts affecting his swing, Lee recalled he “didn’t know how to hit a golf ball.”

That wasn’t a problem Sunday. Lee birdied No. 17 to join the leaders, and as the playoff started, he cleared his head, calmed himself and noticed, “I felt ready.”

Perhaps Greenbrier officials should be ready with more jacket options. Generously listed at 175 pounds, Lee was swallowed by the one he donned afterward.

“I usually wear a medium, but think this is extra large,” he said.

After two previous appearances ended in a missed cut (2012) and last year’s tie for 16th, Lee said the Greenbrier has become one of his favorite destinations.

“It’s phenomenal. I liked it every single year,” he said. “Only one wish I had was if I had a girlfriend, it wouldn’t be as lonely in the room.”


Hearn still winless: After 164 PGA Tour events, the 36-year-old Canadian still hasn’t won and Sunday represented only his second runner-up finish.

“We’re a proud bunch up there, so they’re all rooting for me, and I’ll get one done for them soon,” he said.

The Greenbrier near-miss offered other consolation, however, as Hearn qualified for the British Open.

“To get into majors like this doesn’t happen as much as you might think,” he said. “For top-tier players it seems to happen a lot, but for guys like myself, sort of plugging along, this is an amazing opportunity.

“I’m going to be pinching myself the whole week.”

Streb’s wonderful wedge: Perhaps more than any player, Streb’s 56-degree wedge became the focal point of the final round. He used it to roll in putts on the back nine after breaking his putter on an errant toss to his caddie.

“I did not mean to do that,” Streb said after his putter struck the bottom of his bag. “It bounced, and the head went flying, and it’s like, uh-oh, I’m in trouble.”

Streb birdied holes 10, 11, 13, 16 and 18 with the wedge, which only betrayed him during a three-putt on No. 17.

“Took the 56-degree because we thought it had the straightest edge, and it worked out pretty good,” he said. “Just tried to hit in the middle of the ball as best I could.”