Lee high up in elite field
NEW ZEALAND golfer Danny Lee’s consistent year continued with a sixth-place finish in a high-quality field at the final World Golf Championship event of the season.
Lee shot a final round 68 to finish at five-under 275 and climb five places on the closing day of the Bridgestone Invitational at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.
Ireland’s Shane Lowry won at 11-under for the tournament, two shots clear of American Bubba Watson.
Two off the pace heading into the final round, Lowry overhauled thirdround leaders Jim Furyk and Justin Rose, and held off a charging Watson with a closing four-underpar 66.
The burly, bearded Irishman, ranked 48th in the world, registered four birdies and several clutch par saves in a flawless display on a tree-lined layout where danger lurked at every corner to post his 11-under total of 269.
Left-hander Watson also signed off with a 66.
Lee, who had opened with a 65 to lead the tournament but faltered with a 72 and 70, played a mixed final round. A wobbly opening with two bogeys in holes was birdies.
The result, which earned him US$219,000 (NZ$330,000), was his seventh top 10 finish in a year in which he has also claimed his maiden win. It also lifted Lee to No 10 on the FedEx Cup standings and also improve his world ranking of No 66. the first offset by four four