Lee in Illustrious Company After AT&T Byron Nelson Defence

Dallas, Texas, United States: KH Lee Kyoung-hoon joined golf legends Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson as the only golfers to successfully defend the AT&T Byron Nelson after a career best nine-under 63 on Sunday earned him a one-stroke victory over hometown hero Jordan Spieth.

The 30-year-old Korean overcame a four-shot deficit at the start of the final round with seven birdies and one eagle to repeat as champion at TPC Craig Ranch. His aggregate of 26-under 262 was one lower than last year’s winning score which delivered his maiden PGA Tour triumph.

Spieth, chasing a 14th career title, closed with a 67 while Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama ensured a strong Asian presence on the leaderboard with a stunning 62 lifting him into a share of third place on 264 alongside overnight leader Sebastian Munoz (69).

“It’s an amazing feeling. I can’t believe it. It feels like (I’m) dreaming, but last year and this year make good memories,” said Lee, whose parents, wife and baby daughter were on the 18th greenside to celebrate his second PGA Tour title.

The win was especially sweet given that Lee was struggling with his form as recently as last month following three successive missed cuts. Without a top-10 to his name this season, the Korean went back to work with former swing coach Chris Mayson and mental trainer Reen Jung-gu since the start of last week.

He also hired a new caddie, Dan Parratt, who previously worked with countryman An Byeong-hun, and put an old putter back into his golf bag.

With the changes, he finished tied 25th at last week’s Wells Fargo Championship to halt his mini slump and then pulled off another stunner at TPC Craig Ranch which propelled him to 28th place on the latest FedEx Cup standings. The win also puts him in the frame for the International Team to play in the Presidents Cup in September.

“I have been struggling the last couple of months. I couldn’t find the right way to solve the problems, so I decided to go back to the times when I was good and comfortable. I switched back to my old coach and got advice from my mental coach. That helped a lot.

“Then last week, I changed my putter to the 2-ball putter. Last year (before the win), I switched from 2-ball to blade and then won this tournament. I made a lot of putts this week,” said Lee, who appeared in the first two editions of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, sharing 18th place in China in 2009 and placing joint fourth in Japan in 2010 when Matsuyama won the first of his two titles.

While he made a bucketful of birdies and an eagle on the par-five 12th hole – he was 16-under on the par-fives for the week – Lee acknowledged it was a par-save from 12 feet on the 17th hole, a par-three, which proved pivotal.

“I was very nervous over there. I knew it was a very important putt to make a par,” said Lee, who duly converted to maintain a buffer at the top of the leaderboard heading to the final hole.

Lee now finds himself in an exclusive club at the historic AT&T Byron Nelson, a tournament which was inaugurated in 1944. Before him, only Snead (1957-58), Nicklaus (1970-71) and Watson (1978-80) had successfully repeated as champions.

With a second win under his belt, Lee’s stature in the US and at home in Korea will grow, which is living up to his name. Lee’s father, Sang-moo, had previously explained his son’s full name, Kyoung-hoon, means: ‘Making a name for himself in Seoul.’

“It’s amazing, I can’t believe it,” said Lee on becoming only the fourth player to successfully defend. “Hopefully people remember my name. I’ll try to play well more, so hopefully more will remember my name.”

Making his first start since a tied-14th finish in his defence at the Masters Tournament last month, Matsuyama posted his second lowest score on Tour with his 62, courtesy of an eagle on 18, nine birdies and one bogey.

“It was a great way to finish and gives me some nice momentum moving into next week (PGA Championship). My confidence heading into the PGA feels a lot better, but I still have work to do to pull everything together,” said the eight-time PGA Tour winner.

Spieth needed to chip in for eagle on the last hole to force a play-off with Lee but missed. He tipped his cap to Lee, whom he played alongside in the opening two rounds.

“KH made a great par save on 17 and then went and hit the green in two on 18 and two-putted. He shot eight or nine-under. We had it blowing 15 to 18 (miles per hour) on our last 10 or 11 holes, so that score this afternoon, especially the closing stretch of holes, is just a phenomenal score.”