Westwood feels at home in Asia

Lee Westwood expressed his love for playing in Asia today and hopes that good feeling will help lift him to his first European Tour victory in four years at this week’s Clariden Leu Singapore Masters.

Speaking at Laguna National Golf Club, venue for the US dollars 1.1million co-sanctioned event, the Worksop native explained his preference for playing in Asia over the United States.

“I prefer to play in Asia and Europe. I feel more relaxed in Asia and just feel more comfortable and likely to win playing here,” the 33-year-old said.

“I like the people, the culture and Asia has some great golf courses. It is a good place to start winning this week.”

The 2000 European Tour Order of Merit winner has been a regular visitor to Asia for over a decade and has noted the improvements in both the players and the courses that they play on over the course of time.

“The standard in Asia has improved a lot since my first trip to Asia in 1995,” said Westwood, who has claimed victories in Japan, Malaysia and Macau.

“There are a lot of good players like Zhang Lian-wei, Thongchai Jaidee and Jeev Milkha Singh, who have gone out of Asia and played in the rest of the world. KJ Choi has also established himself in the US.

“The courses have improved a lot as well. They have taken the tournament to some good, demanding courses and the weather is great too.”

The Singapore Masters is one of nine events that is currently co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours. It is a balance that Westwood believes is ideal.

“I think it is about right. I think the Asian Tour have to keep their identity and the European Tour as well,” said the Englishman, who also likes the idea of utilising two courses this week to open up the field to 204 players.

“You’ve got some events where you have got to have two courses to keep a good pool of players from Europe and Asia,” he concluded.