Lee looking for one good week to light up his season

PLAYING in his national Scottish Open in front of home supporters has always meant a lot to Craig Lee. But as he travels to Royal Aberdeen this week, there will an extra edge to his enthusiasm.

After his best year in the professional ranks in 2013 when he finished 59th in the European money list to qualify for the end-of-season bigmoney Race to Dubai final series, his golf this year has been a bit of an anti-climax.

On Friday at the French Open in Versailles he missed his 11th cut in 19 starts this season and unless he turns that form around in November he will be out on the course alongside other tour hopefuls at Q-School rather than rubbing shoulders with Europe’s best in the desert.

But that could all turn around this week. A topfive finish would earn him a big enough cheque to climb from his current 125th spot in the money list to a point where his playing card would be secure for next year.

And, inside the top 10, there are three places available to play in the Open Championship at Hoylake.

‘I’ve actually pencilled in the week of Hoylake for a holiday,’ said Lee. ‘But I wouldn’t be unhappy to turn it round and get to play there.

‘That’s possible but I don’t want to think about it too much and put more pressure on myself. This year has been a bit frustrating but I did prove last year that I can compete on Tour and I have just got to start doing it again.

‘I have played a few events (at Royal Aberdeen) on the Tartan Tour and for a links course its very fair. If you hit the flat fairways you don’t get too many of the unlucky bad bounces you can get on other links courses.’