Golf: Danny Lee withdraws from US Open after 18th hole surprise

Kiwi golfer Danny Lee withdrew from the US Open after a shocking finish in his third round at the brutal Winged Foot course.

The 30-year-old followed an opening round of 70 with a 5 out of 75 to reach the weekend in the second major of the year, only to have his tournament unfold in dramatic fashion this morning (NZT).

Lee experienced a massive collapse at the 18th hole, putting six putts from a starting distance of four feet to record a quintuple bogey nine.

Lee had three more for his third round as he headed to the final par four and dropped a pair of four feet at 18, which hit so far from the hole that he left a longer putt coming back for Specter.

His next effort failed to reach the hole and his third putt, his sixth shot, then passed nearly six feet past the target, and Lee’s next attempt ended just under four feet from the cup.

The world number 108 saw his eighth shot go further on target than any of his previous efforts, before finally making out from seven feet seven inches, the longest putt of the lot, to finish his round with a fivefold bogey nine.

The six putt from four feet saw Lee close an eight over 78.

According to Golfweek, Lee withdrew due to a wrist injury.

Lee last retired from a tournament in 2017, when he retired from the BMW Championship near Chicago after just two holes citing a lower back complaint following a birdie and a bogey.

Yesterday, fellow Kiwi Ryan Fox missed the cut after going 15 out of 85 in his second round. Only five players are under the card for the tournament midway through the penultimate round.