NASHVILLE PREVIEW: LEE URGES TEAMMATES TO SUPPORT CAPTAIN NA
COLLEGE GROVE, Tenn. – Danny Lee has urged his teammates, including himself, to step up and support Captain Kevin Na as Iron Heads look to reverse their fortunes at LIV Golf Nashville.
The team got off to a spectacular start last time in Houston and led late into the opening round on Friday, but slipped over the last two rounds and finished 13th. They are also last in the Team Standings with a 6th place in Adelaide and a tied 6th place in Jeddah their best result of the season so far.
Na, one of Lee’s best friends over the years, has been the shining star of Iron Heads, putting up one consistent performance after another. The Las Vegas native has two top-10s – in Hong Kong and Singapore – and endured a rough 2-over 74 round in Houston that dropped him to tied 24th place after being in a position to add a third to that tally.
The 40-year-old Captain is currently 23rd in the Individual Standings, while Lee and newcomer Jinichiro Kozuma are tied 42nd and the usually consistent Scott Vincent in 51st place.
Ahead of Nashville, Lee said: “I guess I have got to play better and contribute to the team. I think my game is good at the moment…it is just a matter of me doing it out there.
“Kevin’s been playing great golf and has been solid all year. I guess it is now up to us three to pull up our socks and support him on the golf course.
“At this level, we all know what we need to do and what areas of the game we need to improve on. We just need to believe and put three solid rounds together as a team.”
The New Zealand star, who had surgery the day after Team Championship last year to fix his wrist issue, shot a 79 in the final round of Houston to lose ground, but said it had nothing to do with his physical condition.
With his typical self-deprecating humor, Lee quipped: “No. There is nothing wrong with the body, but my brain was definitely damaged that day!”
Lee has never played The Grove before, but he liked what he saw in his practice outings.
“I like the golf course. It is right out there in front of you, pretty straightforward,” said Lee, winner of LIV Golf Tucson in just his second start with the League last year.
“Having said that, I found some of the greens were very small, so you have got to be careful with your approach shots.”
In Friday’s opening round, Lee tees off on Hole 7 alongside Caleb Surratt and Brendan Steele, while Scott will be in the company of his younger brother Kieran and Ripper’s Matt Jones on the 9th hole. Kozuma will be on the 11th tee with wildcard Hudson Swafford and 4Aces’ Pat Perez. Captain Na is in the company of Richard Bland and Thomas Pieters on the 15th hole.