Westwood Open interview

Lee Westwood is ready to win The Open at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s this week. And he says his practice round on Monday evening with Luke Donald was his best ever Open warm-up.

“We escaped the rain and it was really quiet. It was fantastic” Westwood knows Lytham well and is ready for the tough challenge. He admitted: “The rough is bad. That’s becasue of the weather and we are very good at growing grass! There may be times when you are better to take your medicine and take a drop. But that’s golf, the plan is to not go in there!”

Despite the penal rough Westwood is keen to use his driver as often as possible. “It’s one of my advantages and I will use it as often as possible. My strength is tee to green and I want to use that strength as often as possible.”

The World Number 3 has already played two practice rounds this week and is due out today at noon. He tees off with Bubba Watson on Thursday at 9.20am and is looking forward to watchuing the Masters champion in action. He said: “It will be good to get two Ping guys out there and Bubba is exciting to watch. It’s great the way he plays.”

Westwood’s even playing down the absence of long-time caddie Billy Foster. His reliable bag man was badly injured while playing football and Casey Kerr has stepped in. “He’s a great caddie and I have won with him already so I don’t see any problems there,” said Westwood.

When asked whether he’d rather win The Open this week or The Ryder Cup in September, Westwood hardly hesitated before saying: “The Open. Because I’m selfish.”

On this occasion, most golfers would allow him that!