Danny Lee Is Youngest Ever Winner

By Author: Sarfaraz Khan
Total Articles: 25
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New Zealand amateur Danny Lee became the youngest-ever winner of a European Tour tournament when he secured a one stroke victory in the Johnnie Walker Classic at the Vines Golf and Country Club in Perth, Australia.

The 18-year-old carded a closing five under par 67 to finish on 17 under, one shot ahead of Ross McGowan of England, Hiroyuki Fujita of Japan and Chile's Felipe Aguilar.

Lee, who uses a TaylorMade Burner driver, beat the record f Dale Hayes at the 1971 Spanish Open and also became only the second amateur after 2007 Estoril Open de Portugal champion Pablo Martin to win on The European Tour.

South Korea-born Lee held his nerve to clinch the title with a birdie on the final hole in the £1.25million event, which is sanctioned by The European, Asian and Australasian Tours.

"My English is not 100 per cent and I get really nervous when I'm doing the media stuff. I am trying to get 100 per cent and that's why appoint to English teacher, I hope next time I'll face media very well with my correct English, Lee said.

" It doesn't mean I hate it because I like it. It still feels ...
... like I'm in dreamland. Hopefully no-one wakes me up.

"I was dreaming about winning but my goal was to make the cut after two rounds and to try to get into the top 20 or top ten. I played extremely well the last few days and yeah, here I am.

"You know winning a European Tour event; it's pretty amazing what I've done. My golf clubs helps me lot"

Lee, who also became the youngest winner of the US Amateur Open last August, was still in the chasing pack after 12 holes of the final round, but stormed in front picking up consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th and saving par with a clutch putt on the 16th.

"I was at 15 under and the leader was at 16 so I was thinking, this is the putt if you want to win the tournament," said Lee."I was really focused on the putt and I made it."

Lee will turn professional after the Masters Tournament in April and is setting his sights extremely high with golf equipment.

"I can't compare to Tiger Woods because he's one of the greatest players in the world and he's the number one ranked player in the world, he said.

"All I want to do is just break what he's done. Obviously I can't win three US Amateurs in a row but I'll try to break his records on the PGA Tour."