Westwood stands on the cusp of glory

The roars were back. The sun was out. And, there were not many better places to be on this lazy Spring afternoon than Amen Corner.

Especially if you were Lee Westwood. Joint leader with Ian Poulter overnight, the 36-year-old shot a wonderful 68 to be at 12-under-par, one shot ahead of Phil Mickelson.

The American will obviously have the backing of the partisan crowd, all of whom have been caught up in the drama of his wife’s illness. But, there are many who feel the man from Nottingham has learnt an enormous amount after close calls in the 2008 US Open and the 2009 Open Championship, and that this is his year.

Certainly, his third round was almost faultless. He hit a quite magnificent second shot at the 7th, drawing it around and through a small hole in the trees, to escape with a par; and his only mistake came at the famous 12th where his tee shot found a bunker and he failed to get up and down.

Asked in his press conference whether he felt more relaxed than he had done when in contention at Torrey Pines two years ago, he said: “Miles more. I’ve got my own little bubble now, which I wonder around in. Pete Cowen has been a massive influence. I met him first in 1996, but he has been a big influence on my short game in recent years.”

The roar which greeted Phil Mickelson’s eagle at the par-5 13th was massive, and yet even that was insignificant when compared to the one that came 10 minutes later, when he holed his second shot at the par-4 14th. Even in this corner of the world, back to back eagles are very rare birds. What greeted the second one was one of those deep, low, very, very loud roars, when you know something totally ridiculous has just happened.

This roar took place somewhere in 35 amazing minutes, when Lee Westwood went from being five shots ahead of Phil to one shot behind him. Disconcerting for some, but not for those in their “own little bubble”.

Sadly, England’s other favourite son, Ian Poulter, was far less able to close out things happening around him. For the first time in the week his driver was tending to send things left, often into the trees, and by the end of the round you could see he was very disappointed, though somewhat relieved, to walk off with a 2-over-par 74.

“I didn’t play well today,” he said. “I just didn’t get anything going. Having said that, I got a terrible lie in the bunker on the 12th. When I hit my tee shot there, even Lee said ‘Good shot’, but it hit the lip and rebounded onto the down-slope, and I didn’t have a shot. I’m not out of it. As we’ve seen today, things can happen very fast around this course. I’ve just got to go out and play a lot better tomorrow.” A double-bogey followed, and you could see from then on, he was just trying to stop the bleeding.

Tiger had another 70, and still lurks menacingly four shots behind Westwood, and three behind Mickelson.

He was asked in his press conference that he had mentioned thst he was going to try to tone down his outbursts, and whether he had any regrets about some of the cursing he did on the front nine?

Tiger looked bemused and said “Did I?”

When the questioner confirmed he did on “two separate occasions” the world number one replied: “If I did, then I’m sorry”.

Moving on fast, he said: “I’m four back. I warmed up terrible today. I didn’t have control of the ball when I was warming up. I was fighting it. I got on the golf course and made two quick birdies, but after that I was fighting it. I have to do some work tonight. We have plenty of light.”

And with that, he was off to hit balls.

Of the other contenders, Fred Couples is the dream story for many people here in the land of apple pie. Freddie has turned 50, has won his last three tournaments on the Senior (sorry Champions Tour) and walks about the place in tennis shoes and no socks – (to protect his back apparently). If he gets close to Phil, that will split the home crowd; and that could just let in an Englishman with a very pertinent point to make.