Record breaker Lee targets becoming the ‘next Tiger Woods’

TRYING to make a joke about having a bomb in his bag has taught amateur golf sensation Danny Lee to be more careful about what he says.

But the European Tour’s youngest ever winner is still confident enough in his own ability and potential to state openly that his aim is to break Tiger Woods’ records.

The airport incident came in Auckland last October as the 18-year-old New Zealander was leaving for the world amateur team championship.

Lee was taken away for questioning and presumably a lecture for what New Zealand Golf chief executive Bill MacGowan called an “inappropriate, silly, throwaway comment” before being allowed to travel.

He was then accused of not trying as he closed that event with a round of 84, but what a difference four months makes. At the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth this weekend Lee birdied four of the last six holes for an historic one-stroke victory.

So, having taken Woods’ place last August as the youngest winner of the US Amateur title, he has now done something Woods failed to do – win a Tour event before he is even a professional.

And what Lee wants from the rest of his career is to keep on eclipsing the 14-time major champion.

Asked what he wanted to become known as, the Korean-born player replied: “The next Tiger Woods maybe.

Of the bomb incident Lee says: “I learnt a lot. Nobody knew what was going on, not even New Zealand Golf. I know I done a couple of bad things. At the time I didn’t know they were taking that (his comment about a bomb) serious.”

They were and it is a safe bet he will not do anything like that again. As a golfer, though, it is also a safe bet that in the years to come he will do what he did in Perth over and over again.

But out-stripping Woods? Do not put your house on that yet.