Lee Westwood falls short in round one – Nedbank Golf Challenge
If there is anyone who can fancy a triple-win at the Sun City Nedbank Golf Challenge, it has to be Lee Westwood, the man for all seasons.
"I'd love to be the first to win three Nedbank Golf Challenge titles in a row," said Westwood.
"You just have to look at the names on the trophy to realize how special it is. It's not the winning margin that is important to me, but it's the coming back and defending the title that is so satisfying".
Alastair Roper, the Challenge’s tournament director has called the two-time defending champion “…one of the greatest players in the history of this tournament”.
Despite below average standings at the Race to Dubai this season, the 39-year-old Worksop resident keenly looks forward to a crack at the Sun City, etching his name in stone there forever.
He has the credentials to back it up - eight seasons representing Europe at the Ryder Cup, year 2000 European Tour Order of Merit holder, and OWGR no. 1, 2010 (first Brit to do so since Nick Faldo in ’94).
South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen has recognized the danger in Westwood’s contention to the top $5 million prize they are both after. He called Westwood, besides the kikuyu rough, his greatest obstacle.
“He drives the ball so straight and he has great iron play, so he gives himself so many opportunities for birdies,” said the Dutchman of Westwood.
“He's able to take driver on a lot of holes where the rest of us take a three wood. That's how confident he is with that club.”
The first round here at Gary Player Country Club went spectacularly well for America’s Bill Haas and Dutch Colsaerts, with both players standing tied at two-under.
After the round, they registered a score of two-under 70. The strong breeze and difficult straight drives made certain that most other players, including Lee Westwood, finished well within strokes of one another.
Westwood finished the day, carding a third one-under that saw him levelled with Paul Lawrie and Louis Oosthuizen.
Although Westy may not have led round one, he remains in top form, with the promise of world-class golfing to come in the days ahead.
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