Smylie Kaufman believes that Akshay Bhatia will not be the only player absolutely kicking himself after failing to win the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit last week.
Of course, much of the attention coming out of the tournament is focused on Cameron Davis – who secured his first title in three years at the Rocket Mortgage Classic – and Akshay Bhatia, who had a long putt to win the event on the 18th green, before not even managing to get down in two.
But the lead moved around throughout the day, with Aaron Rai starting the round tied at the top with Bhatia, while Cameron Young was never too far away despite his frustrations with his game being clear to see.
It did appear that Min Woo Lee was going to set the score to beat, with the Australian teeing off on the 18th hole after making a birdie on 17 to move to -18.
Min Woo Lee kicking himself after Rocket Mortgage Classic
Lee had delighted the crowds by chipping in twice earlier in his round, and it seemed that he was going to storm through the field and put the pressure on the leaders.
Unfortunately for the 25-year-old, a bogey on the last meant that he finished on -17 – with Lee himself admitting shortly after that he was not convinced that it was going to be good enough.
He would end the tournament one shot behind his countryman, and speaking on The Smylie Show, Smylie Kaufman suggested that Lee let a brilliant opportunity slip through his grasp.
“He’s going to be kicking himself tonight, lost by a shot, and if you go and look at his day and him being able to chip and be able to pull off some shots on a Sunday that you kind of need a little bit of luck on Sunday to go your way, to find yourself in contention. He found that, but he also had some mistakes, like the seventh hole which is typically one of the easiest holes on the course, I know it’s a par five; missed the fairway, laid it up, hit it onto the green, had like 25 feet for birdie and proceeds to four-putt, makes a double bogey,” he said.
“And then 18; gets up and down on 17, makes birdie, finds a fairway on 18 which is not an easy drive and hits it the only place you can’t do on 18, which is long and left, and there you go.”
Maiden PGA Tour win is definitely on the way
It does feel as though Lee has not shown his best form so far this season, with Sunday marking just his second top 10 of the year on the PGA Tour.
He has only missed one cut, but he appears to be a player who has the potential to play at a much higher level, so it is surprising that he has not yet won on the PGA Tour.
That debut win is definitely coming, with the talent obvious to everyone. But clearly, some feel that he had the perfect chance to get the job done in Michigan.
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