By Rahul Banerji
K.H. Lee looks set to end a run of three missed cuts on the PGA Tour after getting off to a solid start at the Wells Fargo Championship with a 4-under 66 on Thursday.
It left the Korean star tied for eighth and three strokes behind leader Jason Day of Australia, the PGA Tour said.
Solid putting enabled Lee, 30, card his first round in the 60s in more than two months as he traded seven birdies against three bogeys at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, Maryland.
Compatriot Si Woo Kim was the next best Asian with a 67, while Anirban Lahiri and C.T. Pan of Chinese Taipei were a further shot back with 68s.
Lahiri was delighted his game has continued to trend in the right direction since his superb runner-up outing at The Players Championship in March.
He has posted two top-15 finishes in his last three starts.
“Think I’m coming in with some nice momentum, I’m feeling good about my game, most departments are healthy,” said the Indian ace, who birdied two of his four opening holes en route to his 68.
Good navigation
“Got off to a good start. There are a lot of tough holes out here and I think I kind of navigated my way around pretty good.
“On my back nine, the front side, I think the wind kind of died down a little bit and felt like I gave up a few scoring opportunities coming in, so a little disappointed with that.
“Probably could have hit my lines a little bit better, and I missed a few greens.
“So yeah, going to go work on that and hopefully keep it going,” added Lahiri, who finished tied 13th at the Valero Texas Open and tied 15th at the Mexico Open at Vidanta last weekend
After winning the AT&T Byron Nelson for his maiden PGA Tour victory last May which he will defend next week, Lee has struggled to find form.
He has yet to enjoy a top-10, with a tied 14th at the Shriners Children’s Open being hist best result this season and he currently sits 126th on the FedExCup standings.
Solid irons
“It was little bit cold out there but I played quite solid. I hit some good shots with my irons, so I am happy,” said Lee.
Lee rolled in some long putts for birdies, including a 36-footer on the sixth hole, a 34-footer on 12 and another on 16 from 29 feet.
“The putter was working well. Also, I have been struggling with my irons these days, but I hit good iron shots,” said Lee, who gained 3.4 strokes over the field on the greens.
Day, 2018 Wells Fargo winner, was a shot ahead of Joel Dahmen who had a 6-under 64 with five others sharing third place on 5-under 67.
Also read: Lahiri gains in FedEx Cup standings after Mexico Open finish
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