Lee rallies to defend Byron Nelson title
K.H. Lee of South Korea shot a 9-under 63 in Sunday's final round to successfully defend his title at the AT&T Byron Nelson on Sunday in Mckinney, Texas.
After earning his maiden PGA Tour title at the Dallas-area event last year, Lee picked up his second career win at TPC Craig Ranch with a 26-under 262, one stroke better than hometown favourite Jordan Spieth.
Lee began the day four shots off the lead, but he made five birdies on the front nine and jumped into the lead at 24 under with an eagle 3 at the par-5 12th. His second shot nestled up inside 5 feet of the cup.
He stayed ahead the rest of the way, adding birdies at Nos. 13 and 18.
Spieth, playing in the final group after starting the day one shot off the pace, needed to eagle the par5 18th to force a playoff. His chip from between a bunker and the fringe missed by just 2 feet.
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan fired a 62 to move into a tie for third at 24 under with Sebastian Munoz of Colombia. Munoz, who opened the tournament with a 60, shot 69 Sunday.
Canadians Adam Svensson and Michael Gligic finished well back, 16 and 17 shots off the pace, respectively.
Earlier in the day, Xander Schauffele also took a run at 59 and settled for an 11-under 61 for the low round of the day. After opening with four pars, Schauffele had an eagle and three birdies between holes 5 and 9 and rang up six more birdies on the back nine.
The Byron Nelson was the final tune-up opportunity for PGA Tour players ahead of next week's PGA Championship, the second major on the calendar, at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.
Minjee Lee of Australia made three birdies on the back nine to hold off Lexi Thompson and win the Cognizant Founders Cup on Sunday at Clifton, N.J.
Lee was 1 over through 11 holes before birdies at Nos. 12, 14 and 18 on the Upper Montclair Country Club course to shoot a 2-under 70 and finish at 19-under 269. It was enough for her seventh win on the LPGA Tour and her first since she won the 2021 Evian Championship last July, her first major title.