Westwood off colour

Lee Westwood described himself as “stupid” today for playing the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond with a chest infection.

Westwood, who on Sunday lost a play-off for the French Open and was so looking forward to the next two weeks, managed only a two-over-par 73 to trail early clubhouse leader Graeme Storm by eight.

“I was stupid to go out, especially with The Open next week,” said the former European number one, before going off to see a doctor.

I had hayfever on Monday, and that turned into a chest infection. I had only four hours’ sleep on Tuesday and I can honestly say that last night was the first time in my life I tried to sleep and didn’t get a wink.

“I stood on the range and felt completely dizzy. I thought about not playing and probably shouldn’t have.

“I’m p***ed off. I’ve been playing well, and everything feels in the right place.”

His problem was apparent straightaway as he dumped his second shot of the day into a hazard and double-bogeyed, then dropped a shot on the next as well.

Playing partners Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter did much better with 68 and 69 respectively. But Storm, out in the first group of the day at 7.30am, birdied three of the last four holes to set the target for the rest of the field with a 65.

McIlroy and Poulter were both wearing tartan trousers, McIlroy as a result of a competition on his website.

“I’m just trying to get a bit more support,” he joked. “We thought it was a fun thing to do.”

Also six under with one and four to play respectively were Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Australian left-hander Richard Green – while Scot David Drysdale and England’s Kenneth Ferrie, sixth last week, were in the group on four under.

Ross Fisher, playing his first round since he was fifth in the US Open, had a two-under 69, the same as Masters champion Angel Cabrera and one better than defending champion Graeme McDowell.

Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie were among the later starters.