Lee Westwood ditches holiday on luxury yacht in Med with wife and caddie Helen for rainy Portrush in bid to win The Open

LEE Westwood was supposed to be soaking up the sun on a yacht in the French Riviera this week.

Instead he was soaked to the skin at soggy Portrush – but still loving life as he made a sparkling start to his 28th Open.

Lee Westwood with his wife Helen on the bag at The OpenSportsfile

ReutersLee Westwood seems at home at Portrush after his opening round of 69[/caption]

Westwood, 52, shot a two under par 69 that he insisted should have been at least two or three shots better, although it still showed he is not ready to be written off as a has-been just yet.

To be fair, no-one should have been questioning his commitment, after he earned his place at Portrush by shooting rounds of 70-67 to win the final qualifying event at Dundonald at the start of the month.

Given his poor form in LIV events over the past couple of years, that was something of a surprise result – even to wife and caddie Helen, who had made holiday plans for them this week.

She explained: “The plan was for us to be sitting on the back of my friend’s yacht, sunning ourselves in the Mediterranean as there is no LIV event this week.

“Instead we’ve been getting absolutely drenched, and I’m carrying a bag that feels twice as heavy as usual, because it’s so wet and it’s stuffed with extra towels, an extra top for Lee, and a snood for me.

“I remember it was just like this last time as well, when he finished fourth here in 2019. But you know what, I wouldn’t change a thing. 

“It’s great to see him enjoying himself so much on the course, and playing as well as he did today.”

Westwood  was in buoyant mood, and clearly steel fells he can shed his tag as the ultimate nearly man in the Majors.

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The former world No 1 holds the unwanted distinction of clocking up more top three finishes than any other player without actually winning one – an excruciating nine in all.

He said: “I still think I can compete in this event. That’s why I entered qualifying. I love the Open, and I love this course. 

“And links golf, more than any form of the game, offers you more of a chance when you’re someone of a ‘certain’ age.

“You just use your experience of knowing how much the ball will bounce, where it will skip a bit, and how to handle the weather conditions.

“And I played lovely today. I was four under through 12 and I could easily have been six or seven under. I gave myself a load of birdie chances.

“I gave a couple back, but it was still a nice start.

“When you’ve been around as long as I have you don;t get too excited about seeing your name on the leaderboard on a Thursday, but it was still nice to see it on the big yellow boards they have here.” 

GettyLee and Helen share a kiss during the round[/caption]

PALee Westwood tees off the 6th[/caption]

Westwood admitted there were times when he also wondered whether a week on the Mediterranean might not have been a better idea.

He added: “I’d prefer not to get soaking wet. I was asked whether I’d rather have wind or rain yesterday, and I said wind for sure. So somebody heard me, didn’t they?

“We had a bit of everything. But I don’t mind hiding behind the umbrella and having to run a few in, hit four extra clubs on some yardages.

“I just really enjoyed myself, especially after missing the last two Opens. It’s nice to take that walk down the 18th at an Open venue again. 

“I’ve always said that for a British player, it’s the greatest walk in golf, especially if you’re in with a chance on Sunday.

“It’s the greatest championship in golf for me. 

“I’m slightly biased because I’m British. I guess Americans might say the Masters or the US Open. For me, the Open Championship just has everything.

“And it’s good to feel like I’ve come here with a genuine chance. I feel in control of my golf swing.

“Yeah, it’s as good as it’s been for a while. And that takes in all aspects of tghe game.

“I hit the ball really  well. Had loads of chances. Putted great. Short game was good when I needed it.

“It was all around – it couldn’t have been really any more than 69, I don’t think.”

Westwood may not have been able to keep it at four under, but fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick had little trouble in doing just that.

His 67 included a 25 footer for eagle on the seventh, and an outrageous hole-out for birdie on the par three 16th, from a complete mis-hit.

Fitzpatrick grinned: “I played that hole great didn’t I?

“Well short off the green with my tee shot, awful clunk from the bunker, and it catches the hole and drops in for a two.

“They call that hole Calamity, and it could easily have been one in my case. But that’s links golf for you.

“Take the breaks when you get them, and grind away as much as possible elsewhere.

“My form has been trending nicely just recently. I needed it to, because I don’t think I’ve ever felt as bad about my game as I did at The Players this year.

“But I’ve turned it round, and my confidence levels are really good.”

Matthew Jordan was a third Englishman to put his name on the leaderboard early on, and the Merseyside golfer is becoming a bit of an Open specialist.

He finished in the top ten at Hoylake two years ago, and repeated the feat at Troon.

He would dearly love to make it a hat-trick, and his three under par 68 was an excellent start.

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