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Danny Lee has ended speculation over his golfing future by confirming he will join the professional ranks after he plays the Masters in the United States in April.
The New Zealand world No 1-ranked amateur, who became the youngest US Amateur champion in history in August, confirmed his
plans after signing for a final round three-over-par 75 to end the Australian Open on one-under 287 for a top-30 finish at Royal Sydney today.
"I'm going to turn pro after the Masters, definitely," he told NZPA.
"I decided not long ago. I've been discussing it with my parents and it's very exciting."
He said he would not play any amateur tournaments in the interim, and would rely on invitations to professional tournaments in coming months before he joins the pro ranks.
Lee's US Amateur win gained him automatic entry to the Masters at Augusta on April 9-12, but he would lose that exemption if he turned pro before then.
He will now lose his exemptions to the British and US Opens and will have to make the field through qualifying.
The Rotorua 18-year-old certainly showed he belonged in the pro ranks in recent weeks, making the cut in four of his first five professional events, including an 11th-equal finish at the Australian Masters.
Lee was three shots off the lead on Thursday after shooting a first round 68, then produced rounds of 75, 69 and 75.
He was the easily the best amateur at Royal Sydney and the only one to make the cut.
"It was really tough and disappointing. I didn't play really well in the second and fourth rounds. But still pretty happy with my round and I shot an under-par total, not bad.
"The wind conditions were getting tougher and tougher for me. Yesterday I played all right in the same wind but today it didn't happen."
Lee attracted big galleries here and also turned heads with his adventurous dress sense, sporting bright blue trousers on day one, then an all-red ensemble, complete with visor, today as he partnered South Africa's world No 42 Tim Clark.
Asked to assess his golfing year, Lee could barely suppress a grin.
"I think I've done all right. Pretty happy with what I've done. This is my last tournament for the year and I've made the cut.
"I've got a long way to go and I'll learn a lot. This was another good experience and I learned a lot from Tim Clark."
- NZPA