Lee triumphs in playoff; Tiger showing progress

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS (AFP) — New Zealand’s Danny Lee defeated David Hearn on the second playoff hole to capture The Greenbrier Classic and claim his first USPGA Tour title on Sunday.

Lee fired a closing round threeunder 67 to finish at 13-under 267 to set up a four-man playoff with Canada’s Hearn (67) and Americans Robert Streb (65) and Kevin Kisner (64) in the $6.7-million event.

“All I can say is wow,” said Lee after two-putting on the second playoff hole for the win. “It feels amazing. I was so close a lot of times this year and I finally did it.

“Now I understand what winning on the PGA Tour feels like.”

Tiger Woods showed signs of returning to form Sunday by firing a three-under 67 – his first bogey-free round since August 2013. Woods finished tied for 32nd, six strokes back of the leaders.

Lee and Hearn both sank 20 foot putts to make birdie on the first playoff hole – the par-three 18th – where Streb and Kisner were eliminated.

The sudden-death showdown on the Old White course continued at the par-five 17th.

Hearn landed his tee shot in the tree-lined rough and couldn’t recover while Lee – who was born in South Korea but grew up in Rotorua – reached the green in three.

He landed a six-iron some 60 feet away from the hole and two-putted for the win.

Lee not only earned his first US tour title but the world No. 158 will move into the top 100 when the new rankings come out.