Lee wins the 2020 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA
January 2020
Lee's first event of 2020 takes place at Abu Dhabi Golf Course inn the UAE. His best finish here, so far, was in 2008 when he finished T2nd. Last year he finished in T18th place.
Grouped with Eddie Pepperell and Ian Poulter, he has a first round tee-time of 12.15 (GMT +4) and was 3-under (69) for the day and T18th.
7.50 from the 10th on Friday and Lee carded a 68 to lie T7th.
After two rounds he was 7-under with no bogeys on the card on Friday.
Lee said he was pleased at getting back into it after a long break. 'I was on holiday in Thailand after Christmas and didn't even take the clubs, and then came out here last Friday and hit a few balls, because you know how bad the weather was in Dubai with the rain'.
'I didn't hit as many balls as I'd like, but I've done some hard work here on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday, and been working with Rocky (Robert Rock) and the swing feels like there's a bit more width into it and I've driven the ball well. Putting lovely. Rolling the ball nicely, and you know, not really hitting any bad shots. Not putting myself under any pressure'.
He has an 11.48 start with Kit Kitayama and Patick Cantlay on Saturday.
Lee took the lead on 12-under after the front nine when he was 5-under par for the day (3 birdies and an eagle at the 8th). Birdying 12 and a bogey at 14 saw Lee neck and neck with Wiesberger but Lee made further birdies at 16 and 18.
Although both players were 7 under for the day (65), Lee took a one stroke lead into the final day on 14-under par .
Later, he said, ' I played well. I holed a couple of putts early on which gave me some momentum and then hit a brilliant shot into 8, the par 5, with a hybrid, 266 to about 3 feet. Then backed it up with a birdie at 9, so a bit of momentum, got on a roll. Had birdie chances on the back nine. A bit unlucky on 14, came out straight left,snagged the hosel, but solid finish. Birdied 16, which is not the easiest hole on the course and a nice birdie at the last'.
Lee, Bernd Wiesburger and Francesco Laporta had a 12.05 tee-time for the final round and it was an exciting finish when Lee birdied the last hole to win the 2020 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on 19 under par, two strokes ahead of the chasing pack.
It is Lee's 25th European Tour win over four decades!
