Lee Westwood struggles at the Thailand Golf Championship
The defending champion Lee Westwood remained out of contention at the Thailand Golf Championship, after carding a three-under par 69 on Friday, for a five-under par two-round score.
Last year, the Englishman came flying out of the blocks with scores of 60 and 64 in the first two rounds for a 20-under par overall score.
This year, the former world number one is struggling with his form, and settled nine strokes behind the pace set by Charl Schwartzel, who accumulated a two-day total of a 14-under par 130.
Talking to the Asian Tour’s official website, he admitted that he played poorly with his putter and missed a number of birdie opportunities that he created.
In total, he used 27 putts to complete his second-round campaign. On day one, he needed 32 putts to post a two-under par 70.
“Just okay, played alright. I wasn’t making anything. You don’t shoot 20 under through two rounds very often and when you do, you make a lot of putts. I’ve made nothing the first two days and left too many out there. Missed too many short ones which is the
main difference really,” said Westwood.
He also said that he will have to tweak his putting technique, in order to make a strong move on the leaderboard.
According to him, chasing Schwartzel will be a tough task to accomplish. However, he certainly has the potential to contend strongly for a top-five finish in the tournament.
“Make more putts that I made the first two days,” he said. “I’m reading them alright but not starting them on the right line”.
The 13-time Asian Tour winner, Thongchai Jaidee, in the meantime, had a similar story to tell. He carded three birdies against two bogeys to post a one-under par 71 on day two.
Entering the last two rounds, he was sharing the 16th position on the leaderboard, with a four-under par overall score.
“I missed a lot of short putts. I over-read them today. Felt a bit tired as well as it was hot. Played great, missed a few putts,” said Jaidee, who holds the record for most career earnings on the Asian Tour.
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