Lee Westwood has presented a new image to the world - lighter in body and much lighter in his approach to his career and to this week’s US PGA Championship in Atlanta.
It was almost a laugh-a-minute routine in the interview room at the Atlanta Athletic Club as the world number two tried to take some of the pressure off his pursuit of a first major.
First of all Westwood, who has shed nine pounds by upping his training and cutting out "all the stuff that tastes nice unfortunately", could not remember surviving the cut on the same course ten years ago.
Told he had finished 44th he said: "Are you sure? Check that. Let's have a look - I don't think I made any cuts in 2001." Shown the proof in the record books the Worksop golfer added: "I played nicely in 2001 and shot a couple of 68s, really loved the course and happy to be back - good memories!"
Then, told about Rory McIlroy being impressed by his weight-lifting, Westwood replied: "I set two PBs (personal bests) last week - 354 pounds dead lift. A Chubby and a quarter."
The "Chubby" in question is their manager Andrew Chandler, who has the chance this week to complete his stable's own ‘Slam’ of all four majors this season following the victories by Charl Schwartzel (Masters Tournament), McIlroy (US Open) and Darren Clarke (Open Championship).
Westwood's more light-hearted approach comes after talking with American sports psychologist Bob Rotella, one of the people behind Clarke's success at Sandwich.
"I haven't really worked with a psychologist at all throughout my career, so it just made sense to go and consult somebody.
"Darren is a good one to consult with regards to which psychologist would be the best, having been through all of them pretty much."
Westwood and Clarke were both playing their 54th major last month and while one triumphed the other missed the cut.
Poor putting was the main reason for that and on that front Westwood has turned, just like McIlroy has, to American Dave Stockton. He and Rotella have both been emphasising the need to be more relaxed.
"You'll see me not trying," he said. "When you get into those positions, just enjoy it and have a free, clear mind - and play like it doesn't really mean anything. I've done all the hard work now, done it for 20 years - it's time to just relax and let it flow."
Clarke was up at 4.30am to play nine holes of practice with McIlroy just as he did in The Open.
He saw similarities in how he played too. "Poorly," he said.
"I shall be spending quite a bit of time on the range trying to figure it out a little bit, but obviously it's totally different conditions. The heat is going to be a massive factor this week. Obviously, I'm a finely-tuned athlete, so it should not affect me that much!"
Sunday is Clarke's 43rd birthday and, having celebrated his first major title all through the night and beyond, he said that if he won again: "I may go AWOL for a few days again."
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