Lee Westwood explains why The Masters gives ‘older guys’ a chance of major glory
Photograph: Getty
Lee Westwood believes Augusta National gives “older guys” a chance at major glory despite the sport emphasising power and distance more than ever.
The 47-year-old, who finished runner-up in 2010 and 2016, believes added experience gives him a great chance to succeed and finally become a major champion.
The Englishman made five birdies on the front nine with a bogey on the back to produce a four-under 68, which leaves him sitting three strokes back of leader and compatriot Paul Casey, with much of the first round still to be finished after darkness suspended the first round.
"It's nice to see my name up there," Westwood said.
"It's the kind of golf course that gives the older guys a chance. Experience counts for a lot around here. You don't have to be a bomber to get round it.
"It gives you chances if you hit good shots and keep it in play."
"Bombers" like tournament favorite Bryson DeChambeau learned the hard way that Augusta can bite back when you try to overpower it. The 27-year-old's blistering tee-shots too often found the rough or the Georgia pines en route to a two-under 70.
Meanwhile 43-year-old Casey fired a sparkling seven-under 65 and 44-year-old Tiger Woods carded a bogey-free 68.
Westwood, a former world number one who might be the best player of his generation to never win a major, has come agonizingly close, especially at Augusta, which he called his favorite golf course.
He finished runner-up at the tournament in 2010 and tied for second in 2016 - the year countryman Danny Willett took home the Green Jacket.
He was the runner-up at the 2010 British Open, tied for third at the 2009 PGA Championship, third at the 2008 U.S. Open, and tied for third at the 2011 U.S. Open.
Westwood comes into the final major of the year brimming with confidence after competing in a string of tournaments in the run-up to the Masters, which was pushed from April to November due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"I've played a lot more than I normally would recently," he said.
"I'm the kind of player that plays his way into form and I've been playing consistently well - just not really putting four rounds together and finishing it off."
Reuters contributed to this report
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