Tied for the lead with American Akshay Bhatia at the start of Round 3, an out-of-sorts Lee went out in 4-over 40, eventually signing for a 78 to fall to a tie for 16th with one round to play.

Just a day after sharing his fondness for a layout that allows him to showcase his creativity, Lee found parts of the course not initially included on the Pete Dye masterplan.

After three pars to start, the 26-year-old’s round began to unravel when he hit a wild tee shot left at the par-4 fifth that came to rest in an unplayable position in shrubbery.

He took back-on-the-line penalty relief some 70 yards across a creek and on an adjacent practice area on his way to a double-bogey.

Lee’s tee shot on the next then went way right of the fairway as he made bogey to fall further down the leaderboard.

A ball that hung up in the grass beside a bunker well above his feet at the par-5 ninth was further misfortune that Lee could ill afford; his attempt barely moving the ball as he dropped another shot.

Further bogeys followed at the 11th and 13th and then at the island green of the par-3 17th when he putted from the front fringe to the back fringe, hit a heavy chip and then tapped in from two feet for bogey.

There was one bright moment to end on, holing a putt from outside 25 feet for birdie on the par-4 18th for the second time in three days.

It was as stark a contrast as you could get in ball-striking from one day to the next, yet emphasises the challenge presented by one of the game’s most exacting tests.

It was a less dramatic day for Kiwi Ryan Fox, who had four birdies and four bogeys in a round of 72 which saw him climb 16 spots and into a share of 33rd.