Lee Westwood logged 268 profession begins on the PGA Tour earlier than becoming a member of LIV Golf two years in the past.
This week he’ll make his senior debut.
Westwood, 51, is ready to compete within the U.S. Senior Open at Newport Nation Membership in Rhode Island. His is certainly one of two LIV gamers within the subject, becoming a member of Richard Bland, who just lately received the Senior PGA in his first begin on the over-50 circuit.
“The Champions Tour for me is necessary as a result of folks have watched myself play and different guys out right here play for the final 30, 40 years, and so they construct relationships with these gamers and so they’ve seen us develop as gamers and folks,” Westwood mentioned Tuesday. “Sure, folks wish to see the children, the brand new guys on the block coming by way of and contending, however additionally they wish to see the fellows they’ve made a bond with over the past 30, 40 years. As a result of, from what I’ve seen, watching a little bit of the match final week, Padraig [Harrington] remains to be enjoying some nice golf and it’s entertaining. On the finish of the day, we’re within the leisure business.
“It’s good that the USGA and PGA of America and the R&A are looking for a technique to get all people collectively extra typically.”
Westwood, after all, was noting the continued divide between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, who’re nonetheless in negotiations on a possible partnership and reunification of professional golf’s elite gamers. Westwood echoed sentiment from gamers on either side, saying, “I believe if one of the best gamers at each degree don’t come collectively and play, there’s just one loser, and that’s the followers watching.”
“The consensus of opinion of all people that I talked to mentioned it’s nice to see myself and Richard enjoying right here,” Westwood added. “I believe, while you have a look at the U.S. Open two weeks in the past or the Masters or the PGA Championship, persons are completely happy to see Bryson [DeChambeau] or Cam [Smith] or Jon Rahm coming and enjoying in these large occasions. It’s principally getting all one of the best gamers collectively in a single match to compete in opposition to one another, and that’s what you need on the highest degree. You need all one of the best gamers there.”
However that was in regards to the extent of Westwood’s feedback in regards to the general state of the sport.
As for his personal recreation, Westwood is coming off his greatest end in 29 profession LIV begins, a solo third at LIV Nashville. That bumped him as much as No. 33 in factors, a season after he completed a disappointing No. 45.
“I began to swing properly, and my complete recreation was coming collectively after I performed at LIV Houston three weeks in the past,” Westwood mentioned. “Then I went house and did a bit of bit of labor on it. I most likely haven’t been working as exhausting on my recreation as I’d have favored to, however I put in a bit extra work within the week off. I went to Nashville and carried on actually with that theme, these swing ideas. Putted properly final week. I sharpened my brief recreation up as a result of I’ve been enjoying extra, and my recreation is in a extremely good place.”
