Westwood warms to St Andrews

Lee Westwood is happy for it to be known that he is now a fan of the Home of Golf – four years after describing it as “not among the top 200 courses in Fife”.

And it is not just a second round 68 in the dunhill links championship today that has brought his change of mind about the Old Course at St Andrews.

Westwood said: “I’m really learning to like it.

“It’s a great risk-and-reward course and I really look forward to playing it. It’s in my top 100 now!”

That last bit was a joke, but the former European number one’s startling comeback looks for real after he slumped all the way from fourth in the world to outside the top 240.

Westwood, who after nearly two years without a top 10 finish dramatically captured the BMW International in Munich last month, lies six under par at halfway in the £3million celebrity pro-am, where his partner is his manager Chubby Chandler.

“The win was no fluke and I’d definitely back him to be in the Ryder Cup team again next year,” said Chandler.

“Now he’s playing properly again I think you’d pick him even if he didn’t make the side automatically.”

First target is the top five finish this Sunday which could propel Westwood into next week’s American Express world championship in Atlanta.

The 30-year-old has to be in Europe’s top 20 or the world’s top 50 for that and with a first prize of nearly £500,000 the first of those is certainly within reach. He is currently 31st.

Westwood continued: “My confidence is great – I’ve had six birdies, 30 pars and no bogeys so far.

“Carnoustie and St Andrews are not the two easiest courses around and on links you always feel you are going to slip up somewhere.”

Chandler believes Westwood is actually a better player now than he was when he was winning “every week” and is poised to get even better.

He was not sure he would be saying that a year ago.

Chandler explained: “I had my moments of doubt when his attitude was not right.

“There was no direction and it was difficult to get the enthusiasm. We were going round in circles and it was embarrassing for him to talk about it.

“We decided that the best thing was to go to somebody and stick with them. It was either going to be David Leadbetter or Butch Harmon and we chose ’Lead’.

“It’s worked great and I think he will come out a better player. He’s already hitting shots he didn’t have before.”

The changing of view about St Andrews actually began two years ago when Westwood had Dave Musgrove as his caddie in the inaugural dunhill links.

“He gave me an appreciation and an idea of how to play it that I never had in the past. He showed me different ways of playing holes.”