Westy rues ‘rubbish’ shot

“It was rubbish,” Lee Westwood said when reflecting on the shot that cost him The Players – and let one more title get away.
“It was rubbish,” Lee Westwood said when reflecting on the shot that cost him The Players – and let one more title get away from him.
Not the wedge into the water on the short 17th, but a five-iron second to the par five 16th that came up short in a bunker.
Instead of making birdie or even eagle there, Westwood only parred to stay two behind South African Tim Clark and with a double bogey on the next the long-time leader dropped back into a share of fourth at golf’s richest event.
“It was just a rubbish shot – a complete sclaff,” said the world number four, who was second at The Masters last month and third in the last two majors of last season.
He has now gone over 12 years since his only victory in America, but because it was not a major he added: “It’s disappointing, but not something I’m going to pull my hair out over.
“If you don’t play well you don’t deserve to win. As the course firmed up I didn’t have the control of the day you needed and when you get out of position here it becomes very difficult.”
Clark, shooting a best-of-the-day 67, won by one from Australian Robert Allenby for his first US Tour success in 206 starts. The former Scottish Open champion had had eight second places since his debut on the circuit in 1998.
Westwood would have gone to world number three for the first time with a top three finish, but for that will have to try again in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth starting on Thursday week.
Latest
-
News
Steve Stricker makes Padraig Harrington sweat as Irishman wins US Senior Open
The pair were rival captains in last year’s Ryder Cup in Wisconsin.
-
News
Golfers warned of further sanctions if they continue to play in LIV breakaway
The DP World Tour has issued fines of £100,000 and tournament bans to its members who played in the inaugural LIV Golf event earlier this month
-
European Tour
DP World Tour hits members who played inaugural LIV series with £100,000 fines
They have also been banned from several forthcoming tournaments including the Scottish Open.
-
News
Rory McIlroy not impressed as Brooks Koepka becomes latest big name to join LIV
The world number two labelled the players who have joined the new series as “duplicitous” for the way they have handled their breakaway.
-
The Open
R&A confirms LIV Golf Series players will be allowed to compete at Open
The 150th Open Championship will get underway at St Andrews in three weeks’ time.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick turns to other major winners for advice on dealing with fame
Fitzpatrick won the US Open on Sunday.
-
News
Brooks Koepka set to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series
Koepka’s brother Chase played in the opening event at Centurion Club earlier this month.
-
US Open
Gary Player urges Matt Fitzpatrick to avoid ‘poison’ of modern-day coaching
Player tells US Open champion Fitzpatrick to learn from mistakes of recent major winners, saying: “The teaching today is the worst it has ever been.”
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick’s caddie Billy Foster ready for ‘long party’ after US Open win
Foster won his first major after a 40-year career which includes spells working for the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick backed to become a dominant force after winning first major
The Englishman claimed his first major title at Brookline.