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Special Interest Forums => The Xtraordinary World of Sports => Topic started by: Crusader on May 05, 2009, 08:19:27 pm



Title: Lee makes the Cut
Post by: Crusader on May 05, 2009, 08:19:27 pm
Lee makes TAB pay
NZPA - May 5, 2009, 4:44 pm
 
NZPA ©
 
New Zealand golfer Danny Lee made the TAB pay for doubting his talents when he made the cut at only his second start as a professional in the United States PGA tour.

Nearly 70 per cent of the bets placed on the TAB's option on Lee whether Lee would make the cut at the weekend's Quail Hollow Championship in North Carolina backed the 18-year-old to be successful.

"The largest collect was $1400 when one punter put $400 at $3.50 on him to make the cut at Quail Hollow," TAB golf bookmaker Kevin Gutschlag said today.

The initial price offered against him making the cut was $1.25.

"Danny really seems to have captured the imagination of New Zealanders as there has been stronger interest than usual in golf betting on events where he is competing."

Lee missed the cut in his first professional tournament, the Zurich Classic in New Orleans in the United States by eight shots just over two weeks ago.

Lee's next appearance is likely to be at the Texas Open on May 14-16. He also has sponsor exemptions to play in the Byron Nelson Classic (May 21-24), and the Colonial (May 28-31), both in Texas.

He is then exempt for The Memorial in Ohio (June 4-7) and the National at the Congressional Country Club in Maryland (July 2-5) by virtue of his US Amateur victory last year.

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/golf/news/article/-/5544589/lee-makes-tab-pay


Good on ya Danny




Title: Re: Lee makes the Cut
Post by: Lovelee on May 15, 2009, 07:21:56 pm
Lee loses caddie

Danny Lee's helpers are thinning quickly as the New Zealand golfer adjusts to life in the United States.

The teenager has parted ways with his New Zealand caddie, Anthony Knight, just weeks after an amicable split with his New Zealand-based coach Steve Jessup.

Lee, now managed by the powerful International Management Group, has taken his first tentative steps in the professional ranks on the PGA Tour in the United States in the past month.

Knight had been a constant at his side Knight, but their working relationship has ended, apparently due to a clash between Knight and Sam Lee, the 18-year-old's father.

Their last gig together was last week's Quail Hollow Championship in North Carolina where the reigning US Amateur champion finished tied for 38th.

"Danny wants me to work for him but me and Danny's old man didn't quite see eye to eye on a few things so it looks like we've parted ways," Knight told the Bay of Plenty Times newspaper.

"I don't want to go fully into it but let's just say it's a bit political in there.

"The management team said Danny's dad wanted to give a couple of other guys a go on the bag and possibly get me back after a few weeks, which doesn't sit well with me.

"I said `no, it doesn't work that way', because I've got other options out there as well. Apparently I'm not fired but his dad wants to try a few guys.

"I don't like being treated that way because this isn't something I do on a part-time basis."

Knight has earned a fine reputation toting the bags for an assortment of players for close to two decades, among them Frank Nobilo, Sergio Garcia, Michael Campbell and Aaron Baddeley.

He and Lee worked together for the first time at the New Zealand PGA Championship in March when Lee tied for seventh place, before missing the cut following week in the New Zealand Open near Queenstown.

It is known that Lee's parents were originally keen to pursue the services of Australian caddie Jason Hamilton.

The player struck up a good relationship with Hamilton when he became the youngest winner in European Tour history at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth in February.

But Hamilton is now working for New Zealand left-hander Tim Wilkinson in the US.

In his place stepped Knight, who was supposed to stay on Lee's bag for the remainder of this year.

Knight said his personal relationship with Danny Lee remained tight, but he feared the teenager might gain a reputation he did not deserve.

"Danny's the new kid on the block and they can't go treating caddies straight away like that, they'll get a bad name."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/2415645/Lee-loses-caddie