14 May 2018

Lee finishes 7th at Players Championship

11:59 am on 14 May 2018

New Zealand golfer Danny Lee has finished tied for seventh at the Players Championship tournament in Florida.

Danny Lee of New Zealand walks off the green on the 17th hole during THE PLAYERS Championship 2018.

Danny Lee of New Zealand walks off the green on the 17th hole during THE PLAYERS Championship 2018. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Lee started the day in second place, however his even par final round could not match those around him.

Overnight leader Webb Simpson from the United States won by four shots.

Beginning the final round with the tournament's largest ever 54-hole lead of seven shots, Simpson held on tight during a one-over-par 73 and his 18 under total earned the American a four-stroke win.

In second place at 14 under were Charl Schwartzel, Jimmy Walker and Xander Schauffele (all 67), with Australia's Jason Day one shot further back to share fifth place with Jason Dufner.

Lee picks up $511,000 from the tournament which is known as the unofficial fifth major.

Up until today Lee had just one top ten finish on the PGA Tour this year and had won $497,000 in prize money

Tiger Woods, for the second straight day, plundered the first 12 holes but finished poorly, showing his comeback from a spinal fusion is still a work in progress after eight events this year.

He picked up six birdies but dunked his tee shot into the water at the island-green par-three 17th for a double-bogey.

Woods carded 69 to tie for 11th on 11-under.

Meanwhile Justin Thomas became golf's new world number one, ending fellow American Dustin Johnson's 15-month reign.

Thomas tied for 11th at the Players Championship.

Thomas won his first major at the PGA Championship last August.

The 25-year-old has won eight times on the PGA Tour.

- RNZ / Reuters