Lee wins Greenbrier; Earns Open start

New Zealand’s Danny Lee won The Greenbrier Classic and, along with David Hearn, James Hahn and Greg Owen, has earned a start in The Open Championship at St Andrews.

New Zealand’s Danny Lee won The Greenbrier Classic and, along with David Hearn, James Hahn and Greg Owen, has earned a start in The Open Championship at St Andrews.

Lee claimed his first PGA Tour title at The Old White TPC in West Virginia via a four-man playoff against David Hearn of Canada and Robert Streb and Kevin Kisner of the USA.

On a closely contested final day, Kevin Kisner set the clubhouse lead at 13-under-par after a closing 64. That number was matched by Robert Streb who managed to make five birdies on the back nine despite having to use his 56-degree wedge as a putter. His flat stick had broken when he tossed it at his bag on the 9th.

Both Lee and Hearn had putts on the final green that would have won the tournament outright, but Lee missed from 18 feet and Hearn left a 12-footer short of the hole.

The first playoff hole was the par-3 18th and Streb and Kisner were eliminated there as Lee and Hearn made birdie twos. Onto the par-5 17th and Hearn played a loose tee shot that ended behind a tree. He could do no better than bogey from there. Lee completed the hole in a regulation five and the victory was his.

"I was so nervous at the start of the playoff,” said Lee. “My head was blank and I was just trying to breathe. As soon as I stood on the 18th tee box, first playoff hole, I felt ready though. I felt like I could really win this thing."

Tiger Woods enjoyed a solid round of 67. He went bogey-free on Sunday to end the week on 7-under-par. There were encouraging signs for the former World Number 1 with The Open at St Andrews just 10 days away.

"It's the best I've hit it in a very long time," Woods said. "I had full control over all the clubs. ... I hit it great, I had it shaped both ways, right-to-left, left-to-right. But it takes time, I’m pleased with what I’ve been able to do though.”

By finishing in the top-10 and, as the best placed players not already qualified for St Andrews, Danny Lee, David Hearn of Canada, James Hahn of the USA and England's Greg Owen earned Open starts.

The Greenbrier Classic The Old White TPC, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia Jul 2-5 Purse: $6,700,000, par 70

1    Danny Lee (NZL)        63    69    68    67    267    $1,206,000 T2    David Hearn (Can)    68    64    68    67    267    $500,267 T2    Robert Streb (USA)    68    67    67    65    267    $500,267 T2    Kevin Kisner (USA)    67    69    67    64    267    $500,267 5    Russell Henley (USA)    70    66    69    63    268    $268,000 T6    James Hahn (USA)    66    67    70    66    269    $195,736 T6    Greg Owen (Eng)        65    67    70    67    269    $195,736 T6    Andres Romero (Arg)    67    67    68    67    269    $195,736 T6    Chad Collins (USA)    65    67    68    69    269    $195,736 T6    David Lingmerth (Swe)    67    70    64    68    269    $195,736 T6    Bryce Molder (USA)    68    64    67    70    269    $195,736 T6    Brendon Todd (USA)    65    69    67    68    269    $195,736

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage