Lee Westwood’s shortest club in the bag help salvage concerns with his longer clubs on the opening day of the Shell Houston Open.
Westwood needed just 26 putts in a round of a four under par 68 using a putter with an extended long grip and that’s halfway between a standard putter and the controversial belly putter.
Lee Westwood shots a 68 on day of Shell Houston Open. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
It’s the fourth occasion in his last six opening rounds on the Redstone Course Westwood’s started with a 68 but with his best Houston result of a share of eighth three years ago.
“I’ve toyed with using a belly putter but not anchoring it in the belly so this putter I’ve got now is not a full belly putter and just about four inches longer than a standard putter,” said Westwood.
Westwood was two under par after three but dropped shots at four and the eighth hole where he put two balls into the water, and both holes being par fives.
The World No. 13 then capped his round with four birdies in five holes from the 12th before dropping a shot at 17.
“I must have the worst par five scoring on the PGA Tour this year as it’s just been horrific,” said Westwood.
“Taking six on the two front nine par fives was like dropping four shots, really. So a 68 could have easily been the highest score I could have shot.”
American D A Points heads the $6.2m tournament with an eight under par 64 and his lowest round in 19 loops of the Redstone Course.
