Lee Westwood is full of excitement ahead of this week’s Masters Tournament, but perhaps not for the same reasons as many others.
Westwood, the World Number Three, is one of a host of leading players to have displayed strong early season form ahead of the first Major Championship of the year.
Top four finishes at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship have understandably boosted the confidence of the man who finished as runner-up to Phil Mickelson at Augusta National in 2010.
Yet in his pre-tournament press conference, Westwood jokingly revealed he was less enthused by the impressive recent performances produced by some of his rivals, including a resurgent Tiger Woods.
“I’m excited to play in the Masters and I’m excited to come here. I’m not so excited that everybody is playing well, obviously,” Westwood said before breaking into a grin. “I wish that everybody was playing poorly.”
Adopting a more serious tone, he added: “It’s great for the game of golf and the Masters Tournament that it’s been such a good run into it with the top players winning big events and Tiger coming back into form.
“It’s whipped up a bit of a frenzy, I suppose.”
Westwood has always approached the Masters Tournament with confidence, having also finished in a tie for sixth back in 1999 before pushing Mickelson all the way two years ago.
“I’ve always looked forward to coming here and felt like the golf course should suit me,” he explained.
“I think it’s somewhere all of us look forward to coming back to. It’s a very special week. It has the history and tradition, and it’s a Major Championship.”
Ahead of his 13thappearance at this event, Westwood is well aware of what to expect from one of the most revered courses in the world.
“I think most of us focus on the short game aspects this week,” he added.
“Tee to green it’s pretty much like any other golf course, but around the greens it tests you to the limit. And obviously with the speed of the greens, it tests you as well.
“So I think the next couple of days is just a case of preparing for that and getting used to the speed of the greens and the variations and the type of shots you’re asked to play; a few different shots around here that we don’t normally play week-in, week-out.
“Missing it in the right place around this golf course is important. Sometimes you are better off having a chip from under the hole than a 15 footer above the hole.
“It’s a constant challenge. You have to adapt a lot.”
Nevertheless, Westwood’s spirits remains high and he points to his recent form as a source of optimism.
“I have started this season better than I do most seasons with some good results,” he reasoned.
“My game feels in good shape and I’m pleased having played last week (at the Shell Houston Open) after having two weeks off, because I don’t practice a lot when I’m at home.
“It was good to play in Houston and shake off a bit of rust and be competitive going into this week. I’m pretty confident.”
