Imago
Mar 13, 2021; Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA; Lee Westwood waves the gallery on the 18th green during the third round of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Imago
Mar 13, 2021; Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA; Lee Westwood waves the gallery on the 18th green during the third round of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
How did an unforeseen rivalry between Bryson DeChambeau and Lee Westwood take center stage on the PGA Tour in 2021? Well, that’s because the latter is currently enjoying a wonderful spell of run in his legendary career. But Westwood knows that age is catching up with him!
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47-year-old Westwood headed into Sunday leading the pack, but a shaky front nine did not give him the confidence to close out the tournament with effect.
“Obviously, when you’re in contention, you’d like to win every tournament you’re playing in, but I didn’t quite have my game today,” Westwood said after finishing runner-up behind Justin Thomas.
It was surprising to see a veteran like Lee Westwood faltering in Round 4 at The Players. However, the TPC Sawgrass layout has seen a lot of 54 hole leaders struggle in the final round, so it was nothing new from a historical standpoint.
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 14, 2021; Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA; Lee Westwood plays his shot from the 16th tee during the final round of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Lee Westwood cites fatigue as the primary reason behind loss
Westwood was calm and collected through Round 2 and Round 3 and topped the leaderboard at the end of both days. But a chunk of the confidence seemed to be missing when he appeared at the layout on Sunday.
Lee Westwood shot an even 72 in Round 4 which was nowhere close to what Justin Thomas made. The latter’s 4-under 68 brilliantly complemented his Round 3 score and carved the path for a historic win.
14 wins and counting for @JustinThomas34. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Z41E7fv6Xv
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 15, 2021
“I don’t know what it was. Maybe I have just played a lot of golf. I hate to say it, age is catching up with me. Yesterday I felt like my legs were just starting to get a bit tired and weak, and today I just didn’t feel like I had my legs under me,” Westwood reflected on his Round 4 performance.
Westwood put on a striking clinic in the first three rounds but struggled to do the same in Round 4. A lot of it had to do with the pressure of standing atop the leaderboard, but that’s just how competitive the sport is.
“It’s a battle sometimes,” Westwood mentioned. “That’s championship golf. If you don’t like it, you’re in the wrong job.”
Lee Westwood turns 48 next month and is still going strong in his professional career. He now has his sights set on The 2021 Masters, where he will have his son Sam accompanying him as the caddie, replacing fiancee Helen Storey.
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