PGA TOUR
AT&T Bryon Nelson
Lee Wins Byron Nelson to Earn Major Start
Winners are grinners! Just ask KH Lee, who collected his maiden PGA Tour title at the AT&T Byron Nelson. The win gives the 29-year-old Korean a spot in next week’s PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. He was third alternate for the major championship before his victory on Sunday.
Lee, who earned his first win on the PGA Tour at his 80th start, is the third Korean-born golfer to win the Byron Nelson (Sang-Moon Bae, 2013 & Sung Kang 2019). Lee’s previous best result since joining the PGA Tour in 2019 was a share of second place earlier this year at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, where finished one stroke behind Brooks Koepka.
Lee began the final round at TPC Craig Ranch in Texas one shot behind third round leader Sam Burns. He made a fast start with three consecutive birdies from the second hole. Then he made poured in birdies at the 6th and 8th holes before dropping a shot at the 9th hole for an outward nine of 4-under 32. A birdie at the par 5, 12th got him to 24-under to give him a three-shot lead over playing partner Burns. Burns held a share of second place at 21-under with Patton Kizzire and Daniel Berger, who shared the clubhouse lead at that time.
With rain teaming down the leaders were forced off the course for more than two hours. Immediately after the weather delay, Lee missed a par out from 15 feet at the 15th green to drop to 23-under. His lead was cut to two shots over Burns with two holes to play. Lee settled, making a birdie at the par 3, 17th hole after putting his tee shot inside 4 feet. He held a comfortable three-shot cushion down the final hole. Both players made a birdie at the 72nd hole.
Lee posted rounds of 65, 65, 67 and 66 to reach 25-under. Burns finished in solo second place after carding a final round 2-under 70 to get to 22-under. The 24-year-old American was trying to become the first golfer to get his first two PGA Tour victories in consecutive starts since Camilo Villegas in 2008. Burns, who won the Valspar Championship two weeks ago, produced a career-low round of 10-under 62 in the second round to take a two-shot lead over Alex Noren going into the weekend. Burns now owns a PGA Tour-best five 36-hole leads this season.
Four players shared third place at 21-under. Patton Kizzire fired the best round on Sunday with a 9-under 63. Daniel Berger produced an 8-under 64. Scott Stallings signed for a 6-under 66. And, former Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel closed out with a 4-under 68.
Marc Leishman was the best-placed Australian. The 37-year-old, who won the Zurich Classic with Cameron Smith last month, finished at 15-under and in a tie for 21st place.
With his win, Lee moves to 29th in the FedExCup standings.
The PGA Tour moves to South Carolina for the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. Colin Morikawa is the defending champion.
Final Scores
AT&T Byron Nelson
1. KH Lee -25
2. Sam Burns -22
T3. Patton Kizzire -21
T3. Daniel Berger -21
T3. Scott Stallings -21
T3. Charl Schwartzel -21
T6. Troy Merritt -19
T6. Joseph Bramlett -19
Australians
T21. Marc Leishman -15
70. Cameron Percy -3
MC. Jason Day
MC. Rhein Gibson
MC. Aaron Baddeley
MC. Greg Chalmers
MC. John Senden
MC. John Lyras
Photo credit: Matthew Stockman /Getty Images
