Westwood loves the pressure

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Lee Westwood says he relishes being under pressure in competitive situations as he gears up for a major.

Lee Westwood says he relishes being under pressure in competitive situations as he gears up for a major.

“I just like to be competitive. I like to have that feeling of needing to make three- and four-footers on the green and that extra pressure,” he told www.pgatour.com.

“Hopefully get into contention, have some pressure put on me the week before a major championship just so if it happens the following week you’re accustomed to it and it’s happened recently.”

The US Open starts next week, and the pairings have been announced, with Westwood to tee off alongside Luke Donald and Martin Kaymer for the opening two rounds.

Westwood is playing in the FedEx St. Jude Classic this week, and while he’s posted solid rounds, he is not really in contention with one round left play, nine shots off Robert Karlsson’s lead. Still, he believes playing in Memphis just prior to the US Open will keep him sharp.

With scorching temperatures Memphis this week, and more sweltering heat expected next week in Maryland, there is a chance of fatigue, but the world No 2 says he is not worried about that and is used to playing in hot climates.

“It was hotter than this (Memphis) in Indonesia a few weeks back when I won and then the following week I followed it up with a win, so it’s not really something.

“You can see what a physical specimen I am right now, so it’s something I just get on with,” he joked.

With the world’s top three players set to tee off together in the US Open, Westwood is set to receive a lot of extra media attention. Of the three, however, only Kaymer has so far tasted major glory.

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