Westwood taunts Americans

Lee Westwood was at his most mischievous as he received the Association of Golf Writers annual award at St Andrews.

Europe’s top-ranked player had US Tour commissioner Tim Finchem seated in front of him at a dinner overlooking the Old Course and asked him to pass on congratulations to Steve Stricker for winning the John Deere Classic on Sunday.

“It was lovely to see an American win on your Tour!” said Westwood.

In the previous five weeks there had been two victories for Justin Rose, one for Westwood and, of course, Graeme’s McDowell’s US Open triumph – the first by an European in that event for 40 years.

The month of May, meanwhile, saw titles lifted by McDowell’s fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy, South African Tim Clark and Australian Adam Scott and Jason Day.