Golf: Kiwi pro Danny Lee finds true love, fine form on the course

Danny Lee during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Photo/Photosport

Kiwi golfer Danny Lee has revealed the secret to his upswing in form over the past couple of months - he's engaged.

Lee's bachelor status became something of a running gag two years ago, after he won his maiden PGA Tour title at the Greenbrier Classic.

"I love it here," he said afterwards. "My one wish is that I had a girlfriend - it wouldn't be so lonely in my room."

American professional Pat Perez took it upon himself to launch the #FindDannyAGirl campaign and Lee's search for love was soon all over social media.

As he prepares for The Players Championship at Ponte Verdra Beach, Florida this week, Lee, 26, told former PGA pro and Radio Sport golf correspondent Phil Tataurangi that he was due to be married in December.

"She's a great girl and smart," he said. "She is Korean and speaks Korean, which makes my parents happy ... everything's good.

"Travelling with my fiance makes me stay a little bit away from single friends and having fun with the other guys out there, but I'm still enjoying the tour life and she's been supporting me hard."

While his fiance's identity remains a mystery, Lee has been pictured on social media with Yoomi Kong recently.

Lee went through a horror five-week spell over January/February, where he missed the cut four times and had to withdraw from the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with injury, but has turned that around in recent times.

He has made the cut in six of his last seven starts, combing with Billy Horschel to tie for 14th in his last outing at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and finishing 17th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March.

But he told Tataurangi his outlook had not been so positive and his fiancé, along with a return to his previous coach and caddy, had helped turn it around.

"I was putting way too much pressure on my shoulders last year and had very high expectations for great things to happen," he said.

"A lot of people thought I had a good year, but I wasn't happy and absolutely destroyed myself. I wasn't happy with my life and I was struggling, but I think my head is in a good place now."

Lee has also engaged a sports psychologist to help guide him through the mental side of life on the PGA Tour.

"When your game is on, it's pretty easy out here, but when you're a little off track and start to go into that dark place, it gets pretty tough.

"It feels like you're not allowing yourself to miss shots and that's the worst attitude you can have."

Currently ranked 116th in the world, Lee is taking his newly optimistic outlook into the next tournament, recognised as the unofficial "Fifth Major" on the professional circuit, behind the Masters, US Open, British Open and PGA Championship.

"It's a good golf course," he said of Pont Verdra. "You don't have to hit 330 yards off the tee every time.

"It's a thinker's golf course and I'm very good at that - you don't have to hit the driver on every hole.

"My game's been in good shape for the last couple of months. I've just got to hang onto the gas pedal and keep it going."