Lee Westwood is contemplating joining the ranks to become a golf journalist once he retires from pro competition.

Of course, the current World No. 2 was hopefully joking in rounding off a pre Barclay’s Scottish Open press conference here at Castle Stuart.

Lee Westwood contemplating future life as a golf journalist! (Photo - Stuart Adams)

It was yet another form Westwood’s dry wit, as he again entertained the European Tour media on a wet and overcast day in northern Scotland.

Westwood did reveal he has plans in place after he hangs up his golf shoes.

“I know my career is not going to go on forever but then I feel as though I can be competitive for another seven, eight years until I’m 45, 46,” he said.

“I have been doing this job for 30 years but then physically you don’t know where you are going to be in from one year to the next.

“But I’ve laid down some plans.”

And when asked about a role in the media, Westwood said smiling:  “I’m thinking of becoming a journalist.  Anybody can do that.”

His response brought loud laughter.

Westwood is returning to competition for a first occasion since finishing in a share of third place in last month’s U.S. Open.

The England player’s picture is among those on ‘Victory Lane’ as you drive into the stunning Gil Hanse designed Castle Stuart course with Westwood having won the event in 1998.

It’s a sentimental return to the region for the now 38-year old Westwood who contested the British Boys Championship at nearby Nairn.

“I played my first Boys International just down the road at Nairn and also the British Boys there,” he said.

“I played also across the Moray Firth at Fortrose and Rosemarkie, and got knocked out there.

“As well, I’ve played Nairn Dunbar and Skibo.”

And with the London Sun’s David Facey suggesting Castle Stuart is closer to Iceland than London, Westwood recalled he’s also played in the Iceland capital, Reykjavik.

“It’s rocky and windy, and doesn’t get dark,” he also joked.

But on a more serious note, Westwood is hopeful by competing this week at Castle Stuart will put him in good stead to capture that illusive first Major Championship at Royal St. Georges.

“You get those competitive juices flowing by playing the week before a Major, because I like to have that pressure of holing three to four footers, and I just like the competitiveness of it,” he said.

“I wouldn’t want to go from a U.S. Open into The Open Championship not having played.

“I’m the kind of player that needs to play regularly to play my way into form.

“And from what I’ve seen of Castle Stuart, it’s a great setting, a great looking golf course and it should be excellent preparation.

“It’s just always nice to play links golf before The Open Championship.”

Westwood plays the first two rounds of the £3m Barclay’s Scottish Open in the company of Spain’s in-form Pablo Larrazabal and defending champion, Edoardo Molinari.