Lee Westwood is determined to capitalise on his strong Masters showing heading into this week’s Maybank Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.
Westwood secured a best finish all season in sharing seventh place at Augusta National that also has boosting his standing on the European Ryder Cup points table.
In fact, it was Westwood’s fifth consecutive top-15 effort in the year’s first Major after heading into last Sunday’s final round just three shots from the lead, but with the Brit battling to shoot a 73.
The now Florida-based Englishman, who dethroned Tiger Woods some years back to become World No. 1, will tee-up in the $US 2.75m event currently ranked 36th in the world and also seeking his first taste of victory in two years.
Lee Westwood teeing up in Malaysia looking to draw on his strong Masters showing. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
And while there has been questions Westwood may struggle to compete in a ninth straight Ryder Cup, the golfer who turns 41 next week, began dispelling those concerns last week in Georgia.
Westwood has moved to 20th overall on the points table and with the top nine automatically qualifying for the event commencing on September 26th at Gleneagles in Scotland.
“It’s great to be back to Malaysia as I’ve been coming here for a while now and winning here in 1997 was one of my first victories outside of Europe, so that always makes it special,” he said.
“It was a good flight over as I watched some great movies including Captain Phillips, American Hustle and Rush that were brilliant.
“But looking back on last week I feel as though I gave myself a good chance and I put myself into position going into Sunday and that is all you can do.
“Of course, I was a little disappointed leaving Augusta but on the positive side seventh is my best result of the year.
“The work I am doing with Mike (Walker), my coach, and having Billy (Foster) back on the bag, is taking me in the right direction.
“I felt also when I played in Houston the week before the Masters my game was turning around. I started hitting the ball very well and that’s always important going into a Major, so there’s no reason why that shouldn’t change this week.”
Joining Westwood on the Kuala Lumpur Country Club course is Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (2004 & 2005), Italy’s Matteo Manassero (2011) and South African Louis Oosthuizen (2012) as four former Malaysian Open winners to have journeyed from Augusta to Kuala Lumpur.
The three-time Asian Tour No. 1 Jaidee played all four Masters rounds for a first time in three trips to Augusta to share 37th place.
However Manassero, who turns 21 on Saturday, had nothing to celebrate in missing the cut for a second year running with rounds of 71 and 81.
And Oosthuizen, who successfully defended his Volvo Champions event earlier this year, arrived in the Malaysian capital after sharing 25th place in the Masters.
“It was disappointing to finish like I did in the Masters, but my putter just went cold on the back nine on the last day,” he said.
“I was swinging it well enough for the most part, so hopefully I can carry that form here this week and have another good week here like I did in winning two years ago.”
And defending champion Kiradeck Aphibarnrat of Thailand with the help of a new coach will look to follow in the footsteps of Jaidee and his fellow countryman and successfully defend the tournament for only a second occasion in the event’s history.
However the reigning Asian Tour No. 1 has struggled in recent months since he death of his coach, Natpasit Chokthanasart, who he nicknamed ‘Pop Jew’.
However with new coach, Pompetch Saraputti, the reigning Asian Tour No. 1 is looking to get back to his winning ways.
“Losing my coach affected me mentally and my golf game as I stayed with him more than my dad,” said.
“We spent a lot of time together and after he died, I couldn’t sleep for a couple of days. It felt like I lost one of my dad’s and all my confidence was gone.
“We talked about how we would win Major tournaments together. I didn’t expect him to die at a young age (58).”
