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PINEHURST When Danny Lee and Drew Kittleson arrive at the first tee today for their 36-hole U.S. Amateur championship match at Pinehurst Resort, it's a good thing there will be people around to introduce them.
For two guys who have taken similarly destructive paths through their respective sides of the match-play bracket, they have arrived essentially unaware of each other.
Kittleson, a sophomore at Florida State, has at least heard of Lee, who has become a mini-celebrity this week, living up to his world's top-ranked amateur label with successive victories.
Lee can't say the same about his opponent.
“I've got no idea who that is,” Lee said after his 3 and 2 victory against Patrick Reed of Augusta, Ga., on Saturday.
Lee wasn't being rude, just honest.
For all the amateur golf they've played this summer, their paths haven't crossed, even on the practice tee. In fact, Kittleson might not recognize Lee, who is almost as skinny as he is but with a shock of black hair sprouting from the top of his white visor.
“I haven't even seen him this week and he was in the group behind me,” Kittleson said after his 4 and 2 semifinal win against Adam Mitchell of Chattanooga, Tenn.
What Kittleson does know is Lee earned his world ranking, winning the Western Amateur and finishing tied for 20th in the PGA Tour's Wyndham Championship last week.
“He's no slouch, that's for sure,” Kittleson said.
There's a reason Lee and Kittleson have played their way through 310 players to reach this point.
Both have been consistent off the tee and used length to their advantage. When they missed the famously difficult greens on Pinehurst No.2, they showed skill in saving shots.
Kittleson's short game might be his strength, while Lee rarely gives opponents an opening, as Reed found out.
Lee has been 1-down for one hole through five matches. Otherwise, he's been in control. Against Reed, he holed a slick 18-foot downhill birdie putt at No.3, then went 2-up when Reed got sloppy and missed a three-footer at No.7.
It was all the advantage Lee needed.
“He doesn't crack,” said Reed, who was just 1-down until Lee made a 20-foot birdie putt at the par-3 15th.
Lee, who had a precautionary X-ray taken on his sore left shoulder Friday night, is thrilled to have earned an automatic spot in the 2009 U.S. Open and a likely invitation to the Masters.
“I'm just having a really, really good week,” said Lee, who will return to his New Zealand home next week.
Kittleson had not been more than 1-down in a match until Mitchell put him 2-down through five in the semifinals.
