Westwood Open minded and looking for positives

The Worksop man was six over par for the tournament at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s, shooting a two over par final round of 72 yesterday.

“I never get down on myself really,” he said minutes after his weekend came to an end.

“I always look for the positives of everything.”

“I hit the ball okay today, but what I was working on I didn’t quite get it right.”

“You just learn to live with it and keep working on it.”

Westwood’s latest bid to land a first ever major got off to a poor start on Thursday, as four bogeys in the final six holes left him three over par.

Improved ball striking led to a level par round of 70 on Friday, with just one bogey and one birdie, although he had plenty of chances to get back into contention – with no less than seven birdie chances on the front nine.

He told the media: “Nothing seemed to want to go in for me.”

“I hit the ball well, gave myself a lot of good chances.”

“I was on the range last night and just clicked on a few things.”

“I’m much happier.”

There was an anxious wait for the 39-year-old on Friday evening as the cut line fluctuated, eliminating and then eventually reinstating him for the weekend’s play.

Westwood was accompanied by Open legend Tom Watson in the first pairing on Saturday morning, and it was an up and down performance from the Worksop Golf Club export.

He had five bogeys and four birdies in a round of 71, but enjoyed his experience alongside the American veteran.

“(He’s) very easy to play with, a great ambassador for the sport and nice to watch, playing alongside him,” said Westwood.

Five birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey rounded off the weekend for the world number three, with the highlight coming at the second when he chipped in from off the green.

Summing up his Open experience Westwood said he didn’t have high expectations before play began.

“I didn’t have much of a game coming in here, so I didn’t expect too much.”