Lee succumbs to back pain
WELLINGTON: An injuryplagued US PGA Tour season has ended prematurely for No 1ranked New Zealander Danny Lee.
Lee pulled out with lower back pain early in his first round at the BMW Championship in Illinois.
Lying on his back on the third fairway at Conway Farms Golf Club, Lee received extensive treatment but decided he could not continue and shook hands with his playing partners.
It was the final act of the season for world No 93 Lee, who had started the round encouragingly with an eagle on the first hole before bogeying the second.
Ranked 69th on the Tour’s points standings, he needed a topthree finish this week to advance to the Tourending tournament in Atlanta.
It ended a difficult campaign for the 27yearold, who was forced to withdraw with injury four times from PGA tournaments.
He recorded four top10 finishes in 2017, including a third placing at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut in June.
Lee’s ranking was not high enough to win a place in the International team to contest the President’s Cup team tournament against the United States in New Jersey later this month.
Australian Marc Leishman raced out of the blocks on his way to a twostroke lead in the BMW Championship but several big names were lined up within striking distance.
Leishman holed 10 birdies to match his careerlow score on the PGA Tour, posting a 9underpar 62 in ideal conditions at Conway Farms in Lake Forest.
Compatriot Jason Day, the 2015 champion, was nursing a stiff back but carded a 64 that was matched by Americans Charley Hoffman and Jamie Lovemark.
Seventy players are contesting this week’s event, with only 30 advancing to next week’s Tour Championship in Atlanta, which was the season finale.
Lydia Ko’s bid for victory at the Evian Championship will take place over 54 holes.
The final women’s major of the year succumbed to poor weather after significant rain, strong winds and wet course conditions forced the cancellation of the first round at EvianlesBains, France.
New Zealander Ko had played a handful of holes when play was abandoned.
Scores from all golfers who made it on course have been wiped from the leaderboard, and play will begin anew today.
LPGA commissioner Mike Whan says fairness was at the heart of their ruling.
‘‘While we did not make this decision lightly, we believe that this is the right decision — to have the fairest, most competitive tournament for all players in this field,’’ he said.
‘‘We are happy and encouraged with how well the golf course is handling the weather, and it should set up for another amazing Evian finish.’’
After Saturday’s second round, a cut will be made and the top 70 players and ties will advance to the final round on Sunday. — NZN