Lee Westwood’s Open challenge peters out
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Lee Westwood’s long wait to win a major goes on…
It was not to be for Westy this afternoon as he struggled to maintain his earlier blistering form, once again failing to cope with the pressures and expectation of getting over the winning major line.
Once again it was a case of so-near-but-so-far for the 40-years-old Englishman who went into the final round at -3 and holding an admittedly slender two-stroke lead.
Westy gave it his all but once again it was not enough and he came up agonisingly short, having to settle for tied third on +1 after a disappointing final round of 75.
However, the solidity and control that was evident earlier in the week was not there when it mattered most and Phil Mickelson took full advantage.
It just didn’t happen for Westwood who again must be wondering where that first majors victory is going to come from. Or indeed if it will ever arrive.
At last night’s Media Centre press conference following his outstanding 3rd round exhibition, Westwood declared it “wouldn’t be the end of the world” if he didn’t win today and, of course, he’s dead right.
But there can be absolutely no doubt that the defeat will hurt like hell and it will be intriguing to see how long he can keep knocking on the majors door, only for it to be firmly slammed in his face every time.
Westy was treading waater at the turn and was unable to repair the damage after the front nine inflicted three bogeys on him. He could only muster a solitary birdie at the 5th in return.
Looking to become the first English Open champions since Sir Nick Faldo at Muirfield in 1992, Westwood was cheered on loudly by the enormous galleries and he toiled hard to give them plenty to get excited about.
In the end though it took an extraordinary round of golf by Phil Mickelson to overhaul him and capture the spoils – painfully just as Lefty did to deny him of the Masters in 2010.
No excuses though as he admitted: “I didn’t really play well enough today. I didn’t play badly, but I didn’t play great. It’s a tough golf course, and you’ve got to have your “A” game. I missed a few shots out there.
“I said in the press centre last night, sometimes you play well and somebody plays a bit better, and sometimes you play poorly. I didn’t really do either today and Phil obviously played well. But you’ve got to play well to give yourself your own momentum, and I just couldn’t get there today.”
Westy is clearly down but not out and continues to look on the bright side of life. “I’m not too disappointed. I don’t really get disappointed with golf anymore.
“I finished top three in a Major championship. I would like to have won, but you can’t not take positives from top three in a Major. I’m a philosophical person. It just doesn’t wind me up or get to me anymore.”
