SM
Sports Mole words bigger AMP 2
West Ham vs. Newcastle: 2 hrs 47 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Lee Westwood prepared to play golf without "preconceived expectations"

:Headline: Lee Westwood prepared to play golf without 'preconceived expectations':
The bad news for his prospects of winning a first major title at the 88th attempt is that the victory in question was in an amateur event.
Sports Mole
Lee Westwood prepared to play golf without 'preconceived expectations'

The good news for Lee Westwood is that he has tasted success before at Royal St George's, venue for the 149th Open Championship.

The bad news for his prospects of winning a first major title at the 88th attempt is that the victory in question was in an amateur event in the early 1990s and his Open record at the same venue could not be worse.

"Yeah, briefly," was the 48-year-old's droll response when reminded by the PA news agency that he contested the game's oldest major at Royal St George's in 2003 and 2011.

Lee Westwood during day one of the abrdn Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club (Jane Barlow/PA)

"I won an amateur tournament there in 1991 or 1992 I think. They used to have a 36-hole tournament and I went down for it one year and really enjoyed it.

"It was obviously a golf course that I liked and I got along with and then I've turned up to the two Opens and just not played very well."

In fairness, Westwood came into the 2003 Open ranked 208th in the world as he attempted to battle back from a prolonged slump and shot 76, 75 to miss the cut, although by the end of the following month he had returned to the winner's circle in Germany.

Eight years later, Westwood won back-to-back events in Asia earlier in the season to enjoy a second spell as world number one and was ranked second when he arrived at Sandwich, but the result was the same.

Darren Clarke (left) watches Lee Westwood's tee shot from the seventh tee during a practice day for the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George's (Owen Humphreys/PA)

"In 2011 I was probably just having an off week," he added. "I played too many practice rounds with Clarkey I think."

Clarkey is, of course, Westwood's close friend Darren Clarke, who was in despair at the state of his own game in 2011, yet ended the week as the Open champion.

"He walked off (in practice) didn't he and then wouldn't play the next day," Westwood recalled. "He decided to just walk the course and four days later he's lifting the Claret Jug. That's Clarkey all over.

Darren Clarke celebrates with the Claret Jug after winning the 2011 Open Championship (Owen Humphreys/PA)

"Sometimes the stars align for players at majors and sometimes they don't. That's where I am at and where my game is at right now.

"I turn up to tournaments thinking I'm playing all right and it doesn't come off and I turn up to tournaments with not much recent history on a golf course and finish second at Bay Hill and second in the Players (Championship).

"I'm very much turning up at tournaments now not really knowing what to expect and that's a good way to play golf I think, not have any preconceived ideas and expectations.

"What I have done well is stay patient. I've not gone 'fishing' for anything in my game, which I may have done in the past. I've gone back to the little things that I know make me play well.

"And I always look forward to the Open Championship. I really missed not playing it last year. It will be nice to be back, especially as it is shaping up like a normal tournament with them letting crowds in.

"My swing feels in a good place and I'm rolling in my fair share of putts. And when that happens, I feel like I'm a good enough player to still contend."

body check tags ::

amp_article__454796 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-07-10 12:28:53:
html db last update - 2021-07-10 12:28:53 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Lee Westwood

Share this article now:
RM
Read Next:
Rory McIlroy club snatcher ejected from Scottish Open
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Lee Westwood Darren Clarke Golf
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories.
 
Recommended Next on SM
Rory McIlroy club snatcher ejected from Scottish Open
Spurs 'eyeing' Serie A title-winning coach as potential Postecoglou successor
Yoro injury confirmed: Will Man United defender miss Real Sociedad clash?

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal281510352242855
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest28156745331251
4Chelsea28147753361749
5Manchester CityMan City28145953381547
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton28121064640646
7Aston Villa2912984145-445
8Bournemouth28128847341344
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2713594638844
10Fulham2811984138342
11Crystal Palace2810993633339
12Brentford28115124844438
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs281041455411434
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2897123440-634
15Everton2871293135-433
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2796123247-1533
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2865173857-1923
18Ipswich TownIpswich2838172658-3217
19Leicester CityLeicester2845192562-3717
20Southampton2823232068-489
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Preview: Aston Villa vs. Brugge - prediction, team news, lineups

1

PA
Preview: Aston Villa vs. Brugge - prediction, team news, lineups

Atletico vs. Real Madrid: Head-to-head record and past meetings

2

AV
Atletico vs. Real Madrid: Head-to-head record and past meetings

Wolves, Leicester 'scout potential transfer targets' in Europa League clash

NEW

3

WL
Wolves, Leicester 'scout potential transfer targets' in Europa League clash

Preview: Elena Rybakina vs. Mirra Andreeva - prediction, head-to-head, tournament so far

NEW

4

PE
Preview: Elena Rybakina vs. Mirra Andreeva - prediction, head-to-head, tournament so far

Preview: Atletico vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PA
Preview: Atletico vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

Will Rudiger return from minor illness? Real Madrid injury, suspension news vs. Atletico

6

WR
Will Rudiger return from minor illness? Real Madrid injury, suspension news vs. Atletico

PSV vs. Arsenal: Head-to-head record and past meetings

7

PV
PSV vs. Arsenal: Head-to-head record and past meetings

Chelsea injury, suspension list vs. Copenhagen: James, Gusto updates

8

CI
Chelsea injury, suspension list vs. Copenhagen: James, Gusto updates

'Doesn't deserve it' - Man Utd attacker ruthlessly cut from national team

9

'D

Wolves playmaker 'agrees summer deal' to join La Liga outfit

10

WP
1x1


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .