For over 20 years now the British golfing public have gathered round televisions late at night on special weekends just willing Lee Westwood to land a big one in America. Now, believe it or not, we all get to do it once more.
Never mind that he turns 48 next month and way past the age when he should be challenging for titles with the lustre of the Players Championship. Never mind that it’s always ended in heartbreak in the past, and the mighty Bryson DeChambeau, among others, is in position to deny him, just as he did last week at Bay Hill.
Westwood is the halfway leader by a stroke from fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick following a brilliant 66. If sport played with heart and a smile on the face of the pace-maker is your thing, then join the legions who will be cheering Westwood on as he pursues a most unlikely dream.
Sure, it’s not one of the four majors but it’s everything but and the biggest title in the sport that an Englishman has never won. Could you imagine anyone more deserving of becoming the first?
It’s no exaggeration to say that Westwood is a man reborn. His chipping now is better than at any point in his career and he’s found a putting stroke that works. He’s brimming with confidence after forcing DeChambeau all the way to the final putt on the final green last Sunday and by his side is fiancee and caddy Helen Storey, who says all the right things.
‘I believe I’ve played some of the best golf of my career over the last 18 months and I’ve won some big events against quality fields,’ said Westwood. ‘I just felt in control of all parts of my game and it was a pretty carefree round. I’m comfortable when I walk out on to this course. I’m just enjoying myself and making sure that I have fun.’
Adding to the fun for Britain’s watching hordes is the fact that Fitzpatrick will be right by his side on Saturday following a fine 68 of his own.
At 26, he is not much more than half Westwood’s age and desperate to add an American success to his five European titles. Having finished 6th, 11th and 10th in his three American starts this year, the Sheffield man is bang in form.
Just three off the pace is DeChambeau. He began with a double bogey and his missiles off the tee frequently went off-radar. Yet he brushed aside the rudest of awakenings and eve-rything else besides to give himself every chance of completing a spectacular Florida double. ‘I wasn’t hitting it my best today, ’ conceded DeChambeau. ‘But I fought hard, I had a bit of luck and I was able to scrap it round.’
There was no way back for Rory McIlroy. No player since 2000 had recovered from a first round 79 to make the halfway cut and he was never in position to make a run at becoming the first, signing for a 75 to miss the cut by a distance. The Northern Irishman has much to ponder with the Masters now less than a month away.
Spare a thought, too, for playing partner Sergio Garcia, the leader on day one. He had four three putts and went from first to almost last in the putting statistics in a 72 that was hard at times to watch.
At the 15th he missed a putt of no more than 15 inches. But he’s still only two shots off the pace, in pursuit of the man he first partnered in the Ryder Cup way back in 2002.
