Craig Lee will again ignore Monday’s 36-hole US Open qualifier and concentrate on cementing his place on the European Tour.
Lee, 37 fought back from bogeying two of his opening three holes to then hole a 25-yard bunker shot for eagle at the fourth on route to a 70 in a stop-start first day to the BMW PGA Championship.
The Bridge of Allan golfer is contesting the event for just a fourth occasion since qualifying in 2007 as minor tour pro.
He said: “The eagle was quite crucial as I didn’t get off to the best of starts.
“I actually short-sided myself at four after chipping into a bunker and said to my caddy we can’t drop a third shot here, so it was just brilliant when it fell in.
“So from that eagle I managed to build some momentum and delighted now to finish with a score of 70.
“I’ve got a fond relationship with this course playing first here in this event in 2007 as a PGA Tour pro that was then one of the biggest events I had ever played in.
Scotland’s Craig Lee shoots a round of 70 on a ‘Black for Mac’ day at the 2014 BMW PGA. (Photo: David Lloyd/www.golffile.ie)
“And to come back now after two other appearances, and having seen the development in my game on Tour and how I have been progressing, is always interesting.
“Interesting in that I enjoy coming back to courses where you have maybe struggled in the past and seeing how you deal with that. So I do enjoy that aspect of my golf. It’s great.”
But after finishing 59th to qualify for last year’s Race to Dubai Final Series, Lee has struggled this year with just one top-10 in his 13 events of the 2013/14 wraparound schedule.
It’s why he will again not head to Walton Heath on Monday and instead head straight to Sweden and continue concentrating of cementing his card for 2015.
He said: “No, I’ve never been to Walton Heath and I prefer to stay in Europe and get the job done by concentrating over here.
“I am in the fortunate position where I am exempt for a number of tournaments this season.
“And this BMW PGA is such a big week that it’s quite physically demanding without having to play 36 holes in one day on Monday, and even if I do qualify there’s then the rush of organising your schedule back here in Europe either side of the U.S. Open.”
