Currently 10th in the Race to Dubai and 4th (tbc) in World Rankings, Lee returned to the US for the Shell Houston Open at Redstone Golf Club Tournament Course, Humble in Texas. He finished T11th here last year. He managed to take some time to play at Augusta on Monday in preparation for next weeks Masters Tournament.
Lee is paired with Jeff Overton and Jeff Klauk for the first two rounds, playing on the Redstone Tournament Course from the 1st on Thursday at 12.20 CDT (GMT-5) and Friday from the 10th at 7.30.
Three birdies lead to a 3-under 69 and T7th place in the first round, just two strokes behind leader Kevin Stadler.
When interviewed later, Lee said, "At 13 I pulled my tee shot. The wind was hard off the right. I didn't want to leak it out to the right into the trap and just turned it a bit too much. But other than that, played really solid. I had one nice putt on 9 from about 50 feet. But other than that, I guess I missed more than I made.
At 18 I didn't really mean to leave it that far back. Toe skyed it, left me with a lot, probably of the best shot of the day, 6-iron from 213 yards. I played solid all day. I hit 14 greens, and the other ones I missed were just on the edge.
You don't really want to be playing shots from around the edge on this golf course. You want to hit as many greens as possible. That's great to have a chance to win the tournament, which is my priority for this week.
The Shell Houston Open is a big title to win. Lot of things for the tournament. Good champions. I've never won it. Twelve years since I've won in the States.
My main priority this week is to do well in this tournament, but at the same time a good warm-up for the next week. The speed of the greens are similar. Gives you a test with some shots we might have next week".
Lee had an up and down round but shot a 4-under 68 to end the day 7 under par, ending the day inT4th spot, two shots behind leader Bryce Molder.
"It was a bit breezier than I thought it was going to be this morning. The wind got up a little earlier, and at times out there I was a bit undisciplined.
I went for a couple flags I shouldn't have gone for. I played overconfident, tried to play a couple of secret shots. I should have just aimed 30 feet left or right of the hole. All in all it was pretty good.
Could have made two hole in ones in the last three holes on 7, to about 18 inches, must have lipped out and 9, grazed the hole as well. Missed that one. It was a solidish day. Probably 13 greens in there in regulation.
When I did hit greens, I hit it close. And I'm pleased with the position I'm in for the weekend.
I didn't see it lip out from where it finished and where it landed, it must have come really close because the crowd saw it and jumped. Like oh. Then at 9 it was all over the flag. It must have just grazed the hole. But no. With about five holes to play, the wind was starting to pick up and it looked like it would go in. If I get in at 1-under from there, and 2-under from there, 7-under. Have a little pat on the back, I suppose".
Lee thought he may have been a bit undisciplined and got overconfident on his swing, "Tried to do too much on the third hole. Tried a low cut with a 9-iron. Missed it in the right trap which was dead. 16, tried to do the same, tried to hit a hard cut with a 5 and should have been aiming 20 feet left of the hole.And 13, I dropped a shot there, tried to hit a hard hook with a 3-wood, and just got a bit in front of it and bit steep and hit it high right and made bogey at 13.
They were the three undisciplined moments of the day. Other than that, I hit it close a lot. And when I was disciplined, I hit it exactly where I was aiming. I was never in too much trouble".
Lee had a 10.45 tee-time from the 1st on Saturday with Joe Ogilve and Anthony Kim.
Lee had a dreadful opening nine in the third round when, on 8 -under par following a birdie at the fourth, he double-bogeyed 6, bogeyed 8 and double-bogeyed 9, to go out in 5-over 41. However he rallied on the back nine, making birdies at 10,12,13,17 and the last to break even for the day. Remaining on 7-under par, he nows lies T5th, three shots behind leaders Anthony Kim and Bryce Molder.
He had a final tee-time of 12.03 with Justin Leonard on Sunday.
Lee added another top ten finish to his record when he shot a final round 71 (four birdies and three bogeys) to end the event in T8th position on 8 -under par (280).
Anthony Kim won the event following a play-off.
Lee, currently 10th in the Race to Dubai and 4th in World Ranking, remains in the US in preparation for this week's Masters Tournament at Augusta.
