It is remarkable to think that Lee Westwood is going to make his first appearance in a major since 2022 at The Open Championship later this month after earning his place through final qualifying this week.
Lee Westwood was previously one of those players fans could rely on to seemingly put himself in contention in at least one major every single year. He has finished in the top five in 12 majors across his career.
Of course, he is now 52 years of age and in the twilight of his career at the highest level. But his move to LIV Golf in 2022 also put paid to his hopes of being a regular fixture in the majors again. Before 2023, you would have to go back to 1994 for the previous year in which the Englishman did not make a single major appearance.
But he will tee it up at Royal Portrush in The Open Championship this month. Westwood earned his spot by finishing top of the leaderboard at Dundonald on Monday after posting a score of seven under par for two rounds.
Lee Westwood’s hopes of winning The Open Championship assessed after he secures his ticket to Royal Portrush
Many will be tempted to write off Westwood’s chances. He has not had a great year on LIV, finding himself 42nd in the standings. He has just one top 20 finish to his name this season.
Nevertheless, speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Rex Hoggard suggested that Westwood has the tools to be a surprise package in Northern Ireland.
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“I think a lot of the LIV guys are starting to [notice] let’s call it the Joaquín Niemann effect. Joaquin went out of his way to play non-LIV events to get world ranking points, to keep his name relative in the ecosystem of golf despite his status on LIV Golf. And I think a lot of players have noticed that and seen that. That’s why you probably end up with those players gravitating over on the Monday after an event in Dallas to give it a shot, because you really never know,” he said.
“You’re right, in the case of Lee Westwood, he’s played The Open Championship enough, he has that institutional knowledge. I don’t know that anybody would be surprised if he gets himself in the mix at Royal Portrush.”
How Lee Westwood performed when Royal Portrush last hosted The Open Championship
There is a very good reason why Westwood will be optimistic about his chances at Royal Portrush. His most recent top 10 in any major came back at The Open Championship in 2019, as he finished in a tie for fourth.
And of course, it was Royal Portrush which hosted the event that year.
Three of Westwood’s nine top three major finishes have come at The Open. He finished third in 2009 when 59-year-old Tom Watson looked to be on the cusp of one of the greatest wins in golfing history.
He fell at the final hurdle, but Padraig Harrington spoke of being inspired by Watson’s performance ahead of this year’s event. There is no reason why Westwood cannot do similar now that he has secured his ticket.
