LIVE SCORING FROM DAY ONE OF THE MASTERS
FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
Lee Westwood, the No. 3 player in the Official World Golf Ranking, is regarded by many as the best player never to have one a major. He would love to lose that moniker come Sunday evening and he's off to a great start after a 5-under 67 in the first round of the Masters.
TO VIEW THE FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD AND, ON FRIDAY EVENING, THE SECOND-R0UND SCORES
CLICK HERE
Lee Westwood, the No. 3 player in the Official World Golf Ranking, is regarded by many as the best player never to have one a major. He would love to lose that moniker come Sunday evening and he's off to a great start after a 5-under 67 in the first round of the Masters.
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- As soon as he looked at his phone, Lee Westwood knew he was in for a challenge on Thursday.
His caddy, Billy Foster, had walked Augusta National well in advance of their 12:58 p.m. tee time to get a feel for what they'd face that afternoon. So he texted his boss to tell him how tough the pins were -- particularly for the first round.
"He used slightly more flowery language than that, but we'll stick to tough," Westwood said with a chuckle. "So I knew it was a day for patience where 20 feet, 25 feet under a lot of holes was going to be good."
Coax a few of those into the hole and Westwood knew he'd be golden. That's exactly what happened, too, as he rode a streak of four straight birdies on the front nine and an 8-footer at the 17th into the lead at the 76th Masters. Westwood called it a "platform" that he could build on and he has three days to see if he's equal to the test.
Westwood's 67 tied his low round at Augusta National and was his seventh sub-par score in his last nine trips on the venerable and vexing layout that has absorbed more than 2 inches of rain this week. He hit all but two fairways and 16 of 18 greens in regulation on a cloudy afternoon when the putting surfaces may have been a tad slower than normal but still demanded respect.
"This is a second shot golf course," said Westwood, a consummate ball-striker who ranks second on the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation and 12th in total driving. "I figured if I drive the ball well, which I generally do, then I'm going to have a chance to get it close to flags and from there, it's just an issue of how many putts I hole."
Westwood's affinity for Augusta National has grown in each of the 13 years he's played here. The first time, he says, came as a "shock," and not just because he shot 77. Westwood was struck by how hilly the course was, the speed of the greens and how many times he found himself playing away from flags. No more. He accepts it and prospers, finishing 11th or better three times in the last five years.
The Englishman's runner-up finish to Phil Mickelson in 2010, where he also opened with a 67, is part of an impressive run that has seen Westwood finish third or better in six of the 14 major championships he's played. But he remains in the select company of "best players never to have won" one of golf's crown jewels, and Westwood would dearly love to change that this week.
"When you're in contention and you don't finish it off, you then go home and you assess what you did wrong and where you can improve," he explained. "So that's what I did. ... It's the only sensible thing to do if you want to improve. You go home and strengthen your weaknesses; hopefully retain your strengths."
And Westwood has. After all, this is a man who resurrected his career several years ago after taking a tumble into the abyss of the Official World Golf Ranking not long after winning the European Tour's Order of Merit. He's lost weight and added lean muscle thanks to grueling two-hour workouts. He's won on just about every continent. He's risen to No. 1 in the world, too, and now clocks in at third.
Westwood just hasn't won a major. And the the soon-to-be 39-year-old knows he has reached the prime of his career.
His foray into the Middle East, then to Tucson, south Florida and Houston, was planned with the Masters in mind. Westwood, who rejoined the PGA TOUR this year, admits he's been focused on Augusta National since he left the Atlanta Athletic Club and that tie for eighth at the PGA Championship behind last August.
Unlike the last two years, though, Westwood didn't join the parade of Masters invitees in getting an advance look at the course. Augusta National changes enough from Monday to the first tee time Thursday, much less weeks in advance. So he shook off the rust of two weeks back home in rainy England in Houston, shooting 7 under to tie for 21st.
The Englishman, who had a date with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace earlier this year as he became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, is an affable sort with a quick wit. He is seemingly always ready with a quip -- or to twist the needle -- as he meets with the inquisitive media and this week at Augusta National has been no exception.
But there is a sense of purpose this week, too. Westwood has several celebrity types from England in his entourage, but he hasn't exactly joined in any extra-curricular activity once the group leaves Augusta National each afternoon. The Englishman has been spending most of his off hours at his rented home with his father, who caddied for him in the Par 3 Contest, and his trainer, Steve MacGregor.
"They are keen golfers," Westwood said of the TV types in his gallery. "It's like Disneyland for adults, this place. You can't wipe the smiles off their faces, as it is for the golfers, as well. They are having a good time, but it's serious stuff for me and I sort of try to keep myself away from the golf course."
Besides, if Westwood keeps playing the way he did in the first round, there will be plenty of time for celebrating on Sunday night.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- As soon as he looked at his phone, Lee Westwood knew he was in for a challenge on Thursday.
"He used slightly more flowery language than that, but we'll stick to tough," Westwood said with a chuckle. "So I knew it was a day for patience where 20 feet, 25 feet under a lot of holes was going to be good."
Coax a few of those into the hole and Westwood knew he'd be golden. That's exactly what happened, too, as he rode a streak of four straight birdies on the front nine and an 8-footer at the 17th into the lead at the 76th Masters. Westwood called it a "platform" that he could build on and he has three days to see if he's equal to the test.
Westwood's 67 tied his low round at Augusta National and was his seventh sub-par score in his last nine trips on the venerable and vexing layout that has absorbed more than 2 inches of rain this week. He hit all but two fairways and 16 of 18 greens in regulation on a cloudy afternoon when the putting surfaces may have been a tad slower than normal but still demanded respect.
Westwood's affinity for Augusta National has grown in each of the 13 years he's played here. The first time, he says, came as a "shock," and not just because he shot 77. Westwood was struck by how hilly the course was, the speed of the greens and how many times he found himself playing away from flags. No more. He accepts it and prospers, finishing 11th or better three times in the last five years.
The Englishman's runner-up finish to Phil Mickelson in 2010, where he also opened with a 67, is part of an impressive run that has seen Westwood finish third or better in six of the 14 major championships he's played. But he remains in the select company of "best players never to have won" one of golf's crown jewels, and Westwood would dearly love to change that this week.
"When you're in contention and you don't finish it off, you then go home and you assess what you did wrong and where you can improve," he explained. "So that's what I did. ... It's the only sensible thing to do if you want to improve. You go home and strengthen your weaknesses; hopefully retain your strengths."
And Westwood has. After all, this is a man who resurrected his career several years ago after taking a tumble into the abyss of the Official World Golf Ranking not long after winning the European Tour's Order of Merit. He's lost weight and added lean muscle thanks to grueling two-hour workouts. He's won on just about every continent. He's risen to No. 1 in the world, too, and now clocks in at third.
Westwood just hasn't won a major. And the the soon-to-be 39-year-old knows he has reached the prime of his career.
His foray into the Middle East, then to Tucson, south Florida and Houston, was planned with the Masters in mind. Westwood, who rejoined the PGA TOUR this year, admits he's been focused on Augusta National since he left the Atlanta Athletic Club and that tie for eighth at the PGA Championship behind last August.
Unlike the last two years, though, Westwood didn't join the parade of Masters invitees in getting an advance look at the course. Augusta National changes enough from Monday to the first tee time Thursday, much less weeks in advance. So he shook off the rust of two weeks back home in rainy England in Houston, shooting 7 under to tie for 21st.
The Englishman, who had a date with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace earlier this year as he became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, is an affable sort with a quick wit. He is seemingly always ready with a quip -- or to twist the needle -- as he meets with the inquisitive media and this week at Augusta National has been no exception.
But there is a sense of purpose this week, too. Westwood has several celebrity types from England in his entourage, but he hasn't exactly joined in any extra-curricular activity once the group leaves Augusta National each afternoon. The Englishman has been spending most of his off hours at his rented home with his father, who caddied for him in the Par 3 Contest, and his trainer, Steve MacGregor.
"They are keen golfers," Westwood said of the TV types in his gallery. "It's like Disneyland for adults, this place. You can't wipe the smiles off their faces, as it is for the golfers, as well. They are having a good time, but it's serious stuff for me and I sort of try to keep myself away from the golf course."
Besides, if Westwood keeps playing the way he did in the first round, there will be plenty of time for celebrating on Sunday night.
TO VIEW THE FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD AND, ON FRIDAY EVENING, THE SECOND-R0UND SCORES
CLICK HERE
Labels: US MASTERS
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Thursday, April 05, 2012
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