Danny Lee Facts: 20 Things You Didn't Know About The LIV Golfer

Discover more about the LIV Golf League pro via these facts regarding his life and career in the game so far...

Danny Lee looks on during LIV Golf Andalucia 2024
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Danny Lee is a LIV Golf League player who has enjoyed a successful and varied career in both the amateur and pro game to date. Find out more about his life and journey in pro golf via these facts.

DANNY LEE FACTS

1. His full name is Danny Jin-Myung Lee.

2. He was born in Incheon, South Korea on July 24, 1990.

3. Lee left South Korea at the age of eight and emigrated with his family to New Zealand. He became an official citizen of New Zealand in September 2008.

4. He now lives in Irving Texas with his wife, Yoomi and their two children, Roi and Robin.

5. Lee won the 2008 US Amateur to become the youngest winner ever, at the time. He was six months younger than Tiger Woods when he first managed it, although Byeong Hun An went on to break that record the very next year.

6. Before turning pro in April 2009, Lee was World No.1 in the amateur rankings for around eight months.

7. Lee says he has managed four hole-in-ones throughout his life.

8. He has four professional victories, with his first actually arriving as an amateur at the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic, co-sanctioned by the European, Asian, and Australasian Tours. That win made him the youngest ever winner on the European Tour.

9. His maiden pro success as a pro himself was at the 2011 WNB Golf Classic on the Nationwide Tour.

10. Lee attended Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea for his freshman year.

Danny Lee pictured with the US Amateur trophy in 2008

Danny Lee pictured with the US Amateur trophy in 2008

(Image credit: Getty Images)

11. The start of Lee's professional career saw him play on a number of circuits, including the European Tour, the Nationwide Tour, the Web.com Tour, and the PGA Tour. He eventually settled in America and won his first PGA Tour title at the 2015 Greenbrier Classic.

12. His favorite college football team is Southern California and the Dallas Cowboys are his favorite pro team.

13. While a member of the PGA Tour, Lee used to be known for playing pranks on his fellow pros alongside Rickie Fowler.

14. He won almost $16 million during his time on the PGA Tour.

15. Lee represented New Zealand at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He was briefly in contention after round two but went on to finish T27th.

16. Lee joined the LIV Golf League's IronHeads GC in February 2023, with his final PGA Tour event the Genesis Invitational.

17. The Kiwi took time to find his feet in the league but discovered form in some style at LIV Golf Tucson in 2023, draining a 25-birdie putt from off the green on the third playoff hole to defeat Carlos Ortiz (Fireballs GC), Brendan Steele (HyFlyers GC) and Louis Oosthuizen (Stinger GC).

18. In his first two seasons in the LIV Golf League, Lee finished 29th and 38th.

19. His best result at a Major was T17th at the 2016 Masters.

20. Lee says his perfect golf shot involves a tight 8-iron.

DANNY LEE BIO

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Full NameDanny Jin-Myung Lee
BornJuly 24, 1990 - Incheon, South Korea
Height6ft (1.83m)
CollegeSungkyunkwan University
Turned Pro2009
Former ToursNationwide Tour, European Tour, Web.com Tour, PGA Tour
Current TourLIV Golf League
Pro Wins4
Best Major FinishT17th (2016 Masters)
Highest OWGR34th

DANNY LEE WINS

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TourEventWinning Score
USGA2008 US Amateur5&4 (Drew Kittleson)
European Tour2009 Johnnie Walker Classic-17 (one stroke)
Nationwide Tour2011 WNB Classic-18 (playoff - Harris English)
PGA Tour2015 Greenbrier Classic-13 (playoff - David Hearn, Kevin Kisner, Robert Streb)
LIV Golf League2023 LIV Golf Tucson-9 (playoff - Brendan Steele, Carlos Ortiz, Louis Oosthuizen)
Jonny Leighfield
Staff Writer

Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and is hoping to reach his Handicap goal of 18 at some stage. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.