Danny Lee hangs on at AT&T National

New Zealand golfer Danny Lee remains in the hunt despite a last blemish knocking him outside the top 10 in the opening round of the AT&T National in the United States.

The 18-year-old rookie professional shared ninth place before a double bogey six on his penultimate hole left him to sign for a two-under-par 68.

The reigning US Amateur champion was left to digest his evening meal in 14th equal place, six shots outside the lead held by American Anthony Kim, who fired a course record eight-under 62, at the 6634m Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.

Lee began his round in the $US6 million ($NZ9.54 million) PGA Tour event at the 10th hole and made the turn at one-under after posting the first of his five birdies at the 16th.

He repeated that dose at the first and fourth holes before a bogey five at the sixth.

Lee immediately made up for that minor setback when he airmailed his iron to one foot of the pin at the par-three 159m seventh.

He was positioned for a prominent finish before finding a greenside bunker at the 324m par-four eighth.

His lie appeared uncomplicated but Lee took three shots to get out of the sand, the last of them striking the pin and coming to a rest six feet from the hole.

Lee showed a growing composure by overcoming his annoyance at the last hole, where he pocketed another birdie to share 14th place with five Americans, including Brandt Snedeker, Bart Bryant and Tim Petrovic.

- NZPA