New Zealand professional Danny Lee had mixed feelings after recording his best finish on the PGA Tour yesterday.
The 23-year-old played the final nine holes of the Puerto Rico Open in 4-under par to card a 68 and finish alone in second place, only two strokes behind champion American Chesson Hadley, who shot a 67.
Lee, who began the week in 168th place on the Fed Ex Cup money list, carded rounds of 67, 68, 66 and 68 at Trump International and is projected to climb 93 places to 75th on the standings.
The Dallas-based Kiwi banked the biggest payday of his career when he earned $US378,000 ($NZ446,000), easily beating his win of the WNB Classic on the Web.
Com Tour in 2012, where he earned $US124,000.
But the former US amateur champion could not hide the fact that he was ''a little bit disappointed'' in coming up short of his first win on the PGA Tour.
''I felt like I really played good this week,'' Lee said.
''I was making good putts, a lot of good shots, and I was making good up and downs. I did all I could do, and I'm just really happy I'm playing next week.''
Lee's top-10 finish means he has secured a place in the field at the Valspar Championship in Florida in world-class company.
The New Zealand No 5 put the pressure on leader Hadley when he made birdies in three of the final four holes, but the American was up to the challenge and finished off the win.
''I really felt like I did my best, but Chesson was just playing rock solid,'' Lee said.
''He made a couple of good up and downs from bad tee shots. And you know, when he plays like that, it's just really hard to catch. He just didn't make any silly mistakes at all.''
Lee felt as if he made too many silly mistakes on the front nine as he made the turn in even-par after two bogeys and two birdies.
He said he was ''really nervous'' in the morning as he aimed to become the first New Zealander to win a title on the PGA Tour since Michael Campbell in 2005 at the US Open.
''I didn't really sleep at all. I woke up at 5.30 in the morning. I guess I was really nervous, and I think because of that I wasn't playing my best at the first nine holes.
''But after that I got a lot more relaxed and I just kept believing in myself. I was starting to make more birdies at the end, and I'm really pleased with that.''
