Westwood makes late inroads in Miami

Lee Westwood had left it too late to make a challenge for the WGC-Cadillac Championship, but he was giving his confidence a boost in Miami today.

Westwood, in danger of falling to third in the world with Luke Donald resuming in joint second spot, went to the turn in a three under par 33.

It could have been better, but he three-putted the short ninth and with that slipped to 20th place on five under, eight adrift of overnight leader Dustin Johnson.

Among those Westwood had moved ahead of was Tiger Woods, whose winless stretch was certain to reach 19 tournaments going back to November 2009.

Also two under when he resumed, Woods found birdies at the first, fifth and seventh, but driving into sand on the sixth led to a bogey five.

Phil Mickelson, who has failed to win any of his last 22 tournaments, remained even further down the 66-strong field. With five holes to play he was one over and in a tie for 47th.

Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell were all only level par and both Ross Fisher and Rhys Davies finished down on five over, but there was still plenty of British and Irish interest near the top of the leaderboard.

Johnson led by two from Donald and fellow Americans Matt Kuchar and Nick Watney, while Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was only three off the pace in fifth place and Scot Martin Laird and Dubliner Padraig Harrington just one further back.