Injured Westwood bullish about Race to Dubai chances
Lee Westwood
Lee Westwood is keeping his fingers crossed he can overcome a niggling back injury and claim a third Race to Dubai title this week.
The Worksop man (47) was crowned European No 1 for the second time when denied Rory McIlroy the DP World Tour Championship in 2009.
But he admits he’s heading into the unknown at Jumeirah Golf Estates, where a win in the $8 million finale would see him overtake Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood and Collin Morikawa in the season-long points race and match McIlroy, Sandy Lyle, Bernard Hunt and Bobby Locke with three Harry Vardon Trophy wins.
“It would bookend the season nicely,” admitted Westwood, who claimed his 25th European Tour win in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January.
“I won’t lie, I’ve been struggling with my back since the Masters… I’ve had treatment with the guys here and today is the best it’s felt for three weeks. I’m optimistic that I’ll be able to swing properly come Thursday morning.”
Westwood closed with a 64 to win in 2009 and deny McIlroy the Race to Dubai and he made need a similar performance in a week where 61 players in the 65-man field have a mathematical chance of becoming European number one.
“Going into the week I knew I needed to finish first or second and beat Rory to win the Race to Dubai,” he recalled.
“I played well the first three days, and then Sunday I came out and shot the lowest round of the day, which, when you’ve got the lead, is always going to be good.
“I felt really under control, came out fast, five under through seven or eight, and really put the tournament to bed early and played a solid back nine, shot three-under, and won by six, I think.
“That 64 has always felt like one of the best rounds of my career under the circumstances.”
While he did not play in yesterday’s pro-am as a precaution, Westwood knows he can still be a factor come Sunday.
“I wouldn’t write myself off just yet,” he said. “I know this golf course as well as anybody, probably better than anybody, I’ll have played it more than anybody.
“If I play as well as I know I can play, it’s a golf course that suits me because I’ve won here and played well other weeks. I’m going to have a chance. At 47, nearly 48, that’s a big bonus.”
Meanwhile, Banbridge amateur Olivia Mehaffey (23) has been drawn with Americans Lindsey Weaver and Annie Park for the first two rounds of the US Women’s Open at Champions Golf Club in Houston.
She goes off the 10th on the Jack Rabbit Course (15:31 Irish time) tomorrow (Thurs) before taking on the Cypress Creek Course from the first (15:31 Irish time) on Friday.
Leona Maguire remains second alternate with Stephanie Meadow the fifth reserve.
