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Interview with Korean-New Zealand golfer Danny Lee at Dunlop Phoenix

Interview with Korean-New Zealand golfer Danny Lee at Dunlop Phoenix

Posted November. 20, 2015 09:55,   

한국어

Korean-New Zealand golfer Danny Lee (25, photo) had his best season in 2015. He was ranked in the top 10 eight times including when he had his first championship at PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic in July. He was also ranked 13th on the money list; his prize was about 3.7 million U.S. dollars. He jumped from 150 to 44 in the world ranking. He participated in the Presidents Cup held in his hometown, Incheon, as a member of the international team.

Lee has been invited to the 42nd Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, which is the most prestigious of the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO). The Dong-A Ilbo met him at Phoenix CC (Par 71) in Miyazaki. "It is the first time I received money for participating. I was also invited to a tournament in South Africa but I did not take the invitation due to my injury," he told the newspaper. Lee`s left wrist was dressed because of the injury he had while practicing bunker shots for the tour championship, which was the final stage of PGA Tour Playoff. In his teenage years, he was called a genius, but later the title changed to a lazy genius. He said the key to his successful year was hard work. "I worked harder than ever before. I have improved and now I am happy to see myself competitive," Lee said.

Lee is close to his cousin Bae Sang-moon (29) who is also a neighbor of Lee who has a home in Dallas, the U.S. "Now that my drinking companion is gone, I can fully concentrate on training this winter. Bae had to go to serve the military and I sent him the message `two years pass by quickly`," Lee said with smile.

Lee is expected to participate in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics as a member of the New Zealand national team. "My new year`s resolution is to learn how to maintain peace in my mind and be in control whenever I cannot do well or I have a bad condition."

On Thursday, Lee started from the 10th hole and bogeyed three consecutive holes. However he had his first birdie at the 18th hole and added three more birdies in the second half, finishing the first round one stroke under par at 72, tied for 17th. Kim Kyung-tae, the JGTO prize money leader, suffered from a bad cold and finished the round one stroke over par at 72 (tied for 38th). Takeya Yoshitaka seized solo possession of the lead six strokes under par.



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