Danny Lee in second after long-awaited Masters return

Danny Lee had one thing on his mind after sinking the winning putt at the Greenbrier Classic last year.

“All I was thinking about was coming back to this place,” Lee said. “And now it’s finally here.”

The 25-year-old from New Zealand returned to the Masters Tournament with a flourish after seven years away, shooting 4-under-par 68 to sit in a tie for second after the first round Thursday.

Lee last appeared at Augusta National Golf Club as an amateur in 2009 and shot 74-81 to miss the cut. After the seven-year break, he finds his name on the Masters leaderboard thanks to a round he ranked “top five” in his career.

“I got here a little bit early last Thursday and played a lot of practice rounds,” he said. “You can’t ask for any better golf course. I’m having a blast out here.”

Lee carded six birdies and two bogeys, and he played the last 11 holes at 4-under.

After a birdie on No. 8 got him to 1-under, he hit a 191-yard approach to four feet on No. 10 and sunk the birdie putt. It was a pleasant change for Lee compared with his last experience on the 10th green, which drew laughter during his recount.

“One of the things I remember from seven years ago was making a six-putt on the 10th green,” he said. “I was very disappointed about it, but Adam Scott and Trevor (Immelman) was just laughing at me. I was like, ‘Seriously, guys?’”

Lee hit his tee shot on No. 12 just off the back edge of the green, and he rolled in a straight, downhill putt for birdie to move to 3-under. His last birdie came on No. 16 by hitting it to 10 feet and sinking the putt.

He faced a challenge on the 18th hole by pulling his tee shot into the woods left of the fairway. He found an opening in the trees and hit his approach just left of the green, and he was able to save par to close out his 68.

The last time Lee walked off the course in 2009, his name was nowhere to be found after missing the cut. This time, he enters Friday just two strokes back of the lead.

“If you look at the leaderboard, I can see my name up there,” Lee said. “And when you shoot 81, I don’t think you’re going to see yourself up there.”