Westwood off to flyer and eyeing 19th title

LEE WESTWOOD is determined to land his 19th European Tour title after a flawless five-under-par 67 in the first round of the Qatar Masters left him in a share of the lead alongside South Africa’s Anton Haig.

The Order of Merit leader admitted he needed to get out of the blocks quicker after failing to chase down wire-to-wire winner Martin Kaymer in Abu Dhabi last week.

Westwood was faced with the same situation at November’s HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, where he overturned a 12-shot deficit in the final round before losing out to world number two Phil Mickelson in a play-off.

But after finishing inside the top 10 in eight of his last nine events, a leaner and fitter Westwood is determined to claim the winner’s cheque after making one of his best starts to a year.

“I’m definitely a slow starter,” he said. “It’s all to do with my fitness. I usually come out a bit lethargic and the muscles are not really working, but I do a lot of gym work with the muscles on the golf swing and feel strong and everything feels right. I played very well again. I started off a bit iffy and missed a few greens at the start but I got it together.”

Westwood, who started on the back nine, had plenty of chances to lead outright after missing a birdie putt from inside three feet at the 16th. He got up and down for birdie on the 18th and quickly moved to three under with a birdie at the first before missing four good chances over the next fives holes. Westwood was finally rewarded with further birdies at the seventh and ninth, where he got up and down from a greenside bunker. The Ryder Cup star played alongside Kaymer, who claimed his maiden victory in Abu Dhabi, but struggled to an opening 75.

Former champion Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia were among a seven-strong group two shots off the lead on three under par after battling testing afternoon conditions. Both had chances at the last but missed makeable birdie putts within eight feet, a fact not lost on world number 12 Garcia.

“I played the last 10 holes pretty well. Unfortunately I missed a few birdie chances coming in,” Garcia said.

Scott also only dropped only stroke, at the par-four 14th, but was pleased to be in the hunt on his first return to Doha since his superb six-stroke victory six years ago.

“It was pretty good considering it was tricky out there,” he said. “I hit some good shots and made some good putts and I also scrambled hard.”

Graeme McDowell is best of the Irish after shooting a 70. Rory McIlroy is hot on his heels with a 71 while Damien McGrane fired a 72. A nightmare round for Paul McGinley and Gary Murphy though, for they could only manage 77s.