England’s Lee Westwood made a positive move forward in the early stages of the third round of the 133rd Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon. With the leaders just setting out, the European Tour Member produced his best round of the week, a three under par 68 in difficult conditions to move to two under par 211 for the championship.
Partnering Scottish amateur Stuart Wilson, already guaranteed the Silver Medal as leading amateur having been the only member of the non-paid ranks to make the cut, Westwood made his intentions clear right away with a birdie at the opening hole.
The winner of the Volvo Order of Merit in 2000, who started the day well down the field in a tie for 37th place, bogeyed the second but more than made up for that with birdies at the fourth and seventh to be out in 34.
Westwood, who has missed the cut in the last two Open Golf Championships, celebrated being involved on a Saturday for the first time in three years with a flawless inward half, his only departure from par coming with a birdie at the 11th, consistently the most difficult hole on the course over the first two days.
The Englishman had a chance at the last hole after punching in a superb approach shot to 12 feet but his birdie attempt narrowly slipped by the cup.
