Westwood on the move in Loch Lomond

Lee Westwood’s late decision to play the Barclays Scottish Open looked anything but foolish today as he surged into second place.

Westwood, who had called himself “stupid” for teeing off on Thursday with a chest infection, had a magnificent eight birdies in the first 11 holes of his third round at Loch Lomond.

The former European number one, who after being given antibiotics came back from his opening 73 with a 66 yesterday, charged to 10 under par and was only one behind Retief Goosen.

The South African had yet to tee off again, but win or lose Westwood was giving himself another massive injection of confidence for The Open.

Last Sunday he was in a play-off for the French Open with Martin Kaymer, and the pair might yet have a re-run of that with the German eight under at halfway.

Westwood was paired with stablemate Rory McIlroy, who in stark contrast double-bogeyed the 385-yard fourth for the second day running and was only two under with eight to play.

Colin Montgomerie was on the same mark and had already finished his round by then – but Europe’s Ryder Cup captain was just relieved to be playing after leaving the course yesterday convinced he had missed the cut.

Montgomerie, who shot his second successive 69, got back in only because Swede Martin Erlandsson – needing a birdie at the final hole to knock him out - triple-bogeyed instead.

“You never want to miss a cut before a major,” said the 46-year-old Scot, who has done just that the last two years.

“I was watching the internet and saw that I was 66th, but it was a mistake – I was 65th and okay.

“I’m delighted to be still in the tournament. I didn’t want to have the weekend thinking about what to do or go to Turnberry and have people ask why I was there – because I missed the cut.

“The second-nine 31 yesterday (he birdied his last four holes to survive with nothing to spare) was good – and while I would not say I’m playing well enough to win next week, you never know.”