Report: U.S. Amateur champ to turn pro after Masters

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Danny Lee kisses the U.S. Amateur trophy last August in Pinehurst.

He's only 18, but the New Zealand Herald reported that Danny Lee, the current U.S. Amateur champion, will turn professional after competing in the Masters this spring.

Lee became the youngest U.S. Amateur champion in history last August when he downed Drew Kittleson 5 and 4 last August at Pinehurst, beating Tiger Woods' record by six months.

Lee, who grew up in New Zeland, made his PGA TOUR debut the week before U.S. Amateur. Playing in the Wyndham Championship, Lee fired four rounds in the 60s -- including back-to-back 67s on the weekend -- to finish tied for 20th. Lee also competed in the Turning Stone Resort Championship in October, but missed the cut.

The current U.S. Amateur champion has a long-standing bid to play in the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open in the next calendar year. If Lee turns pro after the Masters, he will be ineligible to use his USGA victory to gain entry into the U.S. Open or British Open.