Danny becomes a true blue Kiwi

2nd September 2008

Rotorua golfing sensation Danny Lee was to be made a New Zealand citizen today during a hero's welcome home after slipping back into New Zealand almost unnoticed last night.

Lee - hailed as the next Tiger Woods - touched down at Auckland Airport as the world's best amateur golfer, after surpassing Woods as the youngest player to win the US Amateur Championship.

The 18-year-old, who started playing at the age of 8 after seeing his mother play, said last night that he was "really happy" about the win.

"I was impressed with how I played. That was the best part of the whole tournament - winning it."

The young golfer, who was born in Korea and was to become a New Zealand citizen at a ceremony in Rotorua today, has been tipped to be as big as Tiger Woods, if not bigger - which Lee acknowledged was something to smile about.

"It's a special thing to be compared to Tiger - he's my idol," Lee said.

"Next year, it's going to be good to play at the Masters, just because it's another chance to see how he plays and how he's so good."

David Graham, high performance manager of New Zealand Golf, said the youngster was "too modest" about his winning performance.

"That's the thing about Danny - he's humble and too modest."

Today, Lee will be honoured in a citizenship ceremony at his Springfield Golf Club, where he has been a member for the past eight years, before he attends a reception being put on by Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters.

His mother, Seo Lee, earlier said she was humbled by her son's stellar golfing achievements. "We are very proud," she said.