Great expectations

Danny Lee's bank manager will be a very happy man following his victory at the Johnnie Walker Classic a couple of weeks back.

US amateur champion Lee made history by becoming the youngest player to win a European Tour event, the New Zealander achieving a stunning one-stroke victory in the prestigious Australian tournament. Lee insists he will not sign a professional contract until he has fulfilled his dream of playing in the Masters and his success in Australia will have increased the value of that contract to astronomical sums.

The privilege he'll get is probably about $20million or $30million when he turns pro. He will be so in demand around the world that this is the icing on the cake. It's one thing to turn pro as the US amateur champion, but to prove as an amateur that you can be a champion at this level means that when you turn pro and sign on the dotted line with any management company, you can buy the Ferrari and the big mansion that you like! He will be a multi-millionaire the day he puts his signature on the piece of paper to turn pro.

Lee is not the first and certainly won't be the last young star who will become an instant millionaire the day he joins the paid ranks. Justin Rose turned pro after finishing 4th in the Open with huge expectations and a nation's hopes that he would be the next Nick Faldo and bring home a major for England.

Twenty-one missed cuts in a row followed and Rose disappeared off the radar for a while. He has since had great success both in Europe and the US, but it took time and a lot of character to get his game back. Michelle Wie was a star at the age of 13. The sponsors were queuing up to sign her the day she turned pro, but the great hope for the women's game has struggled with the pressure and various injuries since that day and is trying desperately to reclaim her lost magic.

Rory McIlroy is an example of someone who has been able to handle the transition from the amateur to the professional ranks. He has been groomed for success from an early age and has surrounded himself with the right people. The results so far speak for themselves.

The early signs for Danny Lee are promising; he coped admirably with the pressure on the course coming down the back nine at the Vines. At no point did he back off and at no point did he accept that he was going to finish second. He birdied four of the last five holes and just kept going for victory. He knew the situation he was in and he was not at all fazed by it, which is maturity way, way beyond 17 years of age.

After his victory in Australia he was quoted as saying that he is going to break all of Tiger's records on the Tour. Now, his English isn't the best, but if he did say that I think he is getting ahead of himself. That is the sort of thing you would say when you are established on the Tour, winning multiple tournaments and have amassed some experience. To compare yourself with Tiger even before you have turned pro is premature beyond belief!

It could have been misreported, but one thing for sure is he is heading the right way to become a major superstar in the sport. Probably starting in mid-April!