Inverness, Scotland … New Zealand’s top-ranked Danny Lee would rather be defending his Greensboro Classic title in West Virginia than competing in the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.

However the PGA Tour was left no option to cancel the event due to the widespread West Virginia flooding that resulted in the death of some 23 people.

Kiwi Danny Lee has posted 11 birdies in his two rounds and with $US 5,500 assured of being donated to the deadly West Virginia Flood Relief campaign.

In a superb gesture to help in the recovery of the Greenbrier region Lee is donating $US 500 for every birdie and $US1,000 for every eagle he scores at the Scottish Open.

Lee moved to the clubhouse lead with rounds of 71 and 66 for a seven under par tally in bright but continuing windy conditions along the Moray Firth.

And in those two rounds Lee has managed 11 birdies over the two rounds and the assurance of $US5,500 tp the flood relief appeal.

“I love to play golf every week but then making birdies and eagle are very important to me this week, as it’s very unfortunate what happened in West Virginia,” he said.

“I won the Greenbrier Classic last year, and it was my first PGA Tour win, and I was looking forward to defending my title and interacting with a lot of the fans, as the people were very nice to me.

“It’s really unfortunate what happened there, and hopefully I can make a little difference to the lives of the people affected so that’s why I am trying to make as many birdies as possible to a little bit of help.”