Lee turned professional after graduating from the University of Washington in 2010, and missed out by one shot on obtaining a card for the PGA Tour at that winter's qualifying school.

Lee's debut season on tour proved a difficult one, finishing well outside the top 125 earners who automatically retain their playing rights.

However, he showed signs of late-season form when finishing T6th at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in October, his best tour finish, and this form continued to a third visit to qualifying school.

Lee finished T4 on his return to the event to secure a second year on the main tour.

Lee married at the age of 18 to Christine Jang, 19, and became a father the following year; he combined his family life with a college golf career at the University of Washington.