Lee Westwood continued in the 2010 Major arena where he left off in 2009 with a superb opening round of 67 in the Masters Tournament at Augusta.
The reigning European Number One showed his class with a superb display which left him leading the European Tour challenge at Augusta National in a tie for second place, only one shot adrift of the surprise leader, American veteran Fred Couples.
The 37 year old Englishman had four birdies in the last seven holes and the World Number Four, third both in The Open Championship and US PGA Championship last year, said: "That's the level my game is at now. I don't have ins and outs - I hit every green in regulation today and you can be relaxed if you are confident."
“I started off well, birdied the second and third and my only two dropped shots of the day were two three putts on the fourth and fifth but I came back quickly with a nice iron shot on sixth and made that 15-footer for birdie there and just played solidly. I gave myself a lot of chances and hit it close.
“To be honest I think we were a little kind to us with some of the flags. But it was still very tricky out there and towards the end of the round, the wind started to move just a little bit. But The course is in fantastic condition. The greens are immaculate. You start a putt on the right line, it doesn't deviate off-line. The flags could get a lot harder. So that's really the reason for so many good, low scores so far, I would say.
“It does feel like a golf course that ought to suit me. There are a couple of tee shots that require a big draw but if you don't play that shot, you can still play the hole and walk off with par. Over the last few years, I've gradually found a way to plod my way around and feel more comfortable.
“I was saying to Billy, my caddie, coming up the last, that although it's the best I've ever played around here, it's the most comfortable I've felt on the golf course. I'm gradually working out a way for me to get around this golf course in as few of shots as possible.”
