Lee Westwood is BACK at The Open! At 52 years old, the LIV Golf veteran delivered a jaw-dropping Final Qualifying performance at Dundonald Links, firing rounds of 70 and 65 to book his return to Royal Portrush—and to major championship golf—for the first time since 2022.
Despite arriving straight from Dallas and barely having time to warm up, Westwood rolled back the years and secured his spot with a masterclass in links golf. From windy conditions to a gritty comeback after a double bogey, this is one Open story you can’t miss.
In this video, we break down Westwood’s journey, quotes, and what this means for The Open 2025. Can the three-time major runner-up make a magical run at the Claret Jug?
📺 Watch now for all the Final Qualifying drama, big names heading to Portrush, and why links golf might just be Westwood’s secret weapon.
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Lee Westwood is officially headed back to the open for the first time since 2022 after a brilliant performance at final qualifying at Dundan Old Links. The 52-year old Englishman rolled back the years, carding rounds of 70 and 65 to top the 36 hole leaderboard at 7 under par and book his spot at Royal Portrait. This marks Westwood’s return to major championship golf for the first time since his T34 finish at St. Andrews in 2022. And the LIV golf veteran couldn’t be more excited. I’ve always said it’s the greatest championship in golf. Westwood told reporters, “As a British player, you get phenomenal support. I really enjoyed Portrait last time. I finished fourth and played nicely. I’m just looking forward to enjoying the week, seeing some old friends, and playing one of my favorite courses. It’s definitely in the top three links courses in the British Isles for me.” Westwood also opened up to bunker dasi oduk about how much he’s missed being part of golf’s biggest stages. If you play golf at a high level, the majors are the ones you want to be in. He said they’re the toughest, the most prestigious. It’s always a great test to go up against the best players in the world on the hardest courses. The three-time runner up in major championships barely had time to settle before teeing it up in Scotland. He arrived at Dunald at 7:30 p.m. the night before, fresh off a golf event in Dallas, where he finished tied 25th, nine shots behind Patrick Reed. Despite the quick turnaround, Westwood looked rejuvenated and in control. His opening round of 70 was made more impressive by a costly double bogey on the par 514th where he took seven shots. But he bounced back in the second round with a clinical 65 that sealed his qualification. It’s dropped now, but at times out there we had a couple club wind, Westwood explained. You can score on the front nine here, but the back n is more about hanging on. I was pretty happy to come through that stretch one under today and then make a move when I could. With a fourth place finish the last time the open was played at Royal Portrush in 2019, Westwood believes he can still be competitive even if he’s cautious about his chances of lifting the Clare Jug. If there’s one major where older players can still contend, it’s the open, he said. Tom Watson nearly won at Turnberry in 2009 and Greg Norman played brilliantly at Burkdale a couple years after that. Link’s golf rewards experience, clever shot making, and managing the wind. You don’t have to overpower it, but he’s keeping expectations in check. I’m not going in with any big expectations. I just want to enjoy the experience. Joining Westwood at Royal Portrait will be Scotland’s Daniel Young and Spain’s Angel Hidalgo, who both finished tied for second at 600. Sweden’s Jasper Samberg also punched his ticket with a 5under finish. With a field shaping up full of stories, veterans, and dark horses, Westwood’s return adds another layer of excitement to what promises to be a thrilling 2025 Open Championship. Chip.
