EAST MOLINE, IL (May 11, 2009) – The John Deere Classic today awarded a sponsor exemption to Danny Lee, an 18-year-old golf prodigy who says his goal, simply, is “to be the next Tiger Woods.” Lee turned pro after playing in The Masters Tournament earlier this season on an exemption he earned by winning the 2008 U.S. Amateur, where he eclipsed Woods as the youngest champion ever.
Lee posted his first victory in a professional event in February at the European Tour’s Johnny Walker Classic in Australia. At 18 years and 213 days, Lee was the youngest player ever to win at European Tour event and one of only two amateurs ever to win on the Euro circuit. Lee also is the reigning champion of the prestigious Western Amateur, another of Woods’ pre-professional conquests.
“We are very much looking forward to welcoming Danny Lee to the John Deere Classic and the Quad Cities,” said John Deere Classic tournament director Clair Peterson. “Obviously, Danny is an exciting young player with a strong resume; the John Deere Classic is proud to provide him with an opportunity to challenge himself at the highest level of professional golf.”
Now 19, Lee was born in South Korea and moved to New Zealand when he was nine. He won a number of prestigious amateur tournaments “Down Under” before arriving for the first time in the U.S. last summer, when he took the top levels of amateur golf by storm. Unlike many international players, Lee never played college golf.
Last summer, Lee dominated his final U.S. Amateur match play opponent at the revered No. 2 course at Pinehurst, winning 5-and-4. Lee joined an elite group of players who won both stroke-play and match-play honors at the Western Amateur at the esteemed Point O’Woods G&CC in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Among that group are PGA Tour stars Phil Mickelson, Scott Verplank, Curtis Strange, and Ben Crenshaw.
“I want to be the next Tiger Woods,” Lee told reporters after his Western Am victory. “I want to try to break his records.”
Lee joins Kyle Stanley of Clemson, Philip Francis of UCLA, Jack Newman of Michigan State, and Brady Schnell of the Dakotas and Gateway tours as players awarded sponsor exemptions for this year’s John Deere Classic. J.P. Hayes also received an exemption but will not need to use it as he will be exempt for the tournament under another status.
The PGA Tour began its run in the Quad Cities in 1971. John Deere, whose world headquarters is in Moline, Ill., assumed title sponsorship of the tournament in 1998. The tournament moved to TPC Deere Run in 2000.
Information about tickets and corporate hospitality is available at www.johndeereclassic.com or by calling toll free 1-800-336-4655.
The John Deere Classic, which includes Birdies for Charity, is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization located in the John Deere Classic tournament offices at 15623 Coaltown Road, East Moline, Illinois. Since its founding in1971, the tournament has helped raise $29 million for charity.
Contact:
Barry Cronin
Cronin Communications, Inc.
847-698-1801
bcronin@cronincommunications.com
