Lee on verge of history
After a week full of autographs and adulation, Danny Lee is starting to feel like Tiger Woods at the U.S. Amateur.
One more victory, and he'll surpass him.
Lee moved to the brink of supplanting Woods as the youngest champion in Amateur history on Saturday by defeating Patrick Reed 3 and 2 in one semifinal at Pinehurst, N.C.
If Lee - who is 18 years, 1 month old - beats Florida State sophomore Drew Kittleson in Sunday's 36-hole final, he would be six months and 29 days younger than Woods was when he won his first Amateur in 1994.
"I'm just having a really, really good week," Lee said. "Everything I hit, everything I putt just falls in the hole."
By advancing to the finals, Lee and Kittleson earned exemptions into next year's U.S. Open and probable invitations to the Masters, as long as they remain amateurs.
"There is no way I'm going to turn pro," Lee said.
For the past week, all eyes have been on Lee. The world's top-ranked amateur and closest thing this event has to a celebrity will play competitive golf for the 11th consecutive day.
The medalist and match play winner at the Western Amateur tuned up for the Amateur last week by debuting on the PGA Tour, making the cut and tying for 20th at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro.
The other semifinal also was decided on the 16th, where Kittleson's 20-foot par putt wrapped up a 4-and-2 victory over Georgia senior Adam Mitchell.
Safeway Classic: Helen Alfredsson shot a 67 to take a 1-stroke lead after the second round of the LPGA Tour Safeway Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Ore. Alfredsson matched her first round of 67 for a 10-under 134, 1 stroke ahead of Sophie Gustafson, who shot 68. Three strokes back of Alfredsson in third place at 137 are Paula Creamer (68) and Kelli Kuehne (70).
Boeing Classic: Scott Simpson matched the lowest round of the tournament with a 6-under 66 and holds a 2-shot lead entering the final round of the Champions Tour Boeing Classic in Snoqualmie, Wash.
KLM Open: Ryder Cup contender Darren Clarke shot a 4-under 66 to take a 3-stroke lead over Henrik Stenson at the KLM Open in Zanvoort, Netherlands.