Pressure? You must be joking – Lee Westwood

Lee Westwood is staying cool, calm and collected ahead of arguably the most important 18 holes of his career.

After firing a spirited 3rd round 70, Westy goes into the final day of the Open holding a deserved two-stroke lead and he appears to be in a bullish mood and taking everything in his stride.

Obviously he’s not yet counting his chickens by any means: he’s been here before, several times in fact, and not managed to get over the winning majors line. This could be his big, may be his best and final chance of winning the greatest prize in golf.

But you would never know it following his responses during his entertaining post-round press conference. He was quickly quizzed about the pressure he is now under, but Westy would have none of it. Pressure, what pressure? “Actually I’m not in a high-pressure situation because I’m going to go and have dinner, and I’m so good with a knife and fork now that I don’t feel any pressure at all!

“When it comes to tee-off around 3-ish, I should be in the same frame of mind as I was today. I didn’t feel any pressure today and felt nice and calm out there and in control of what I was doing.”

Playing with Tiger Woods, Westy had the upper-hand in his head-to-head with the 14-times major champion, a miraculous eagle achieved thanks to a lengthy off-the-green putt on the 5th helping to give him early momentum. “It’s a bonus when they go in,” he refelected.

Another magical and critical moment came at the par-3 16th when he somehow managed to salvage a bogey after getting seriously tangled up in the rough. It resulted in probably the best bogey of his career.

His day of destiny will see him tee it up alongside American  Hunter Mahan at 2.10pm.

Westy believes he has learnt from past major mistakes when he’s been in contention. Basically he’s older and wiser. “I guess it’s hitting 40 and being on that decline, but just enjoying being in that situation, you know.

“You stand on the range and work hard to try to get into position to win Major championships. So when you’re in there with a chance and contend, you might as well enjoy it while you’re there, otherwise the hard work is not worth it.

“I’m hoping things will turn out differently because I haven’t won a major yet and I’d like to win one. But what can you do? You can only do what you think is right and put all that practice and hard work you’ve done into tomorrow.

“Even though I haven’t won a Major, I know what it takes to win one. It’s just a case of going out there and having the confidence in my game – which I’ve got – and putting it to the test.”

Westy’s putting has been a revelation this week and hopefully the magic wand will continue to weave its spell and enable him to putt his way to one of the most popular victories in Open history.