Westwood ‘in good shape’

March 29, 2011

118

20110329

“This is generally the time of year I start playing fairly well,” world number two says

Last updated: 29th March 2011

Westwood 'in good shape'

Westwood: feeling pretty sharp

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With The Masters looming large next weekend, Lee Westwood thinks his game is coming together at precisely the right time.

The 37-year-old Englishman will have the chance for a final competitive tune-up at the Shell Houston Open this week, where he has been paired with Phil Mickelson for the first two rounds.

Mickelson, of course, was the man who separated Westwood from the green jacket at Augusta 12 months ago and both have yet to win this season.

Another motivation for Westwood ahead of the year’s first major is that a top-two finish this weekend will move him back to the top of the world rankings.

“I feel like I am playing well – my game’s in good shape. All of it seems pretty sharp,” he said on Tuesday.

“This is generally the time of year I start playing fairly well and hitting a bit of form. It’s a good time of year to start playing well.

Prepared

“The main point here is that they try to get the greens as quick as possible so when you get to Augusta next week it’s not as big a shock to see the speed of them. You’ve been prepared for them.

“It helped a lot last year (he came joint eighth in Houston). I like to be competitive going into the week of a major. That’s the reason I play the schedule I play.

“If you look at all the major championships this year, I am playing the week before. If I go in after two weeks off I could be rusty, even for nine holes – and that’s too much in a major.”

Westwood’s putting has been his biggest concern so far in 2011 and he is planning a change for this week to see how it goes.

Meanwhile, Ryder Cup captains Jose Maria Olazabal and Davis Love III will also be playing together on Thursday and Friday in Texas.

It is Olazabal’s first appearance in America since June 2009. He was out most of last season with a recurrence of rheumatic pains.

US Masters Outright: Lee Westwood 16/1

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