Lee Westwood has tied the lowest back nine score in Open Championship history

Lee Westwood speaks to the media following the third round at The Open Championship

Lee, how are you? So, it’s probably stood here after six L’s. Did you? That’s it. Neither did you. Did you? So, it’s probably no news for not by now that you make the book of record. So, with that back nine, no, it’s a good back nine, wasn’t it? The put at the last. I’m not sure how it’s missed. Um, but I was just saying on the front nine, I was looking around the golf course and, you know, I was like, “Oh my god, where I’m going to make a couple of birdies to get this back to half decent.” and then just started making good swings from seven seven in really and uh and then I was looking at wow I feel like I’ve birdie every hole so it just shows you you got to be patient and uh I’d never give up right stick at it you had such a different back I’m sure I have but this one’s pretty fresh in my memory threes on the back yeah well I just kept writing down a lot of threes on my scorecard and I thought this is going well I didn’t even know, you know what I needed coming down the left. So, how long was that put on the left? I guess it was about 15 ft. As soon as I hit it, I thought, I’ve made it. It’s going right in the middle and then it dive dived left instead of I thought it was almost was going to dive right at the end like um Sam’s who I was playing with did. Sam’s drifted off to the right and that one was perfect on left half and it just went a little bit left. So, you know, it’s a mystery that one. Did you Did you know that uh nobody’s ever shot 28 before? No. You didn’t know? You didn’t know you’ve been smashing a record? No, I’m not that bothered. I’d have taken 29 on the back n on the 10th. Right. I mean, since last uh wall drama, you’ve been playing some spectacular work. Well, since Washington really, you know, I shot 62 final day there, but I felt like I’ve been swinging it well for a few weeks now. Could you could you feel something switching on or or or or what was that point when you Yeah, I’ve got some good swing thoughts at the moment throughout my game. You know, I’ve got some good swing thoughts on my long game, good on my short game and bunker play. Not that I needed it much today. Um chipping feels good and on the greens the putting I’m feeling like I’m starting it online with some nice pace. It’s been tough to judge the pace the first two days on the greens with, you know, the rain coming in and then it drying up and then the rain coming in. You know, the greens have seem to have been varying very quickly. But today, obviously, with the conditions a bit more consistent, it was easier to get the pace of the greens and just, you know, roll, you know, roll with it because it cuz it wasn’t changing that much. So, sorry. When the sun’s shining, you know, you’re playing that well on Saturday at an open with crowds like that at the open, does it get does it get any better? Probably not. No, I was just saying that it’s the best walk in golf that the walk to the 18th green at the open. Obviously, sorry. Sorry. No, seeing how you played today and how you playing this week. Do you wish you could play more links golf during the year? Yeah. I’ve always said it’d be nice to play more links golf. Yeah. I think it’s the it’s the best form of golf. The purest really, you know, that’s how golf courses originally were laid out, right? And uh um they are always get the open championship course in wherever you’re playing in fantastic condition. And Port Rush is pretty spotless this week. Mrs. Westwood have anything to say to you on that back n you know there were some pearls of wisdom coming out of Mrs. Westwood’s mouth today. Yeah. What share one? Uh what did she say? Something about not expecting to be four over through six. You’re rubbish. There’s a few birdie chances I think she said. And then on the 10th t was the key one. Do you want half a tuna sandwich? You know, if you start a beat up in his stomach, then you know, there’s only one way for me. That’s the secret. That’s that way. That’s the secret, right? Nothing gets me going like a tuna sandwich. It works. Can you give United a couple of tuna sandwiches, mate? Yeah. You need a John West sponsorship at United, don’t you? You’re so rubbish. Maybe you should have it on the first time. Yeah. I’m going to have a tuna sandwich on the first tea tomorrow. Yeah. Le’s got to eat. Scotty’s pretty far ahead, but the top 10 would get you into next year. Yeah, I mean, I’ve not I’ve said no goals for this week um at all whatsoever. That’s why I really wasn’t that disappointed when I was four over through six because I thought it’s the open championship. You know, how many more am I going to get to play? You might as well enjoy it. There’s no point in being four over through six and sulking and being miserable and thinking who, you know, there goes my open championship chance this year. you might as well, you know, just enjoy the surroundings, enjoy the feedback from the crowd because they’re great and uh and just plow along and try and figure out what was going wrong with me swing and why I was 4 over 36. Just turn it around and patience is the key sometimes and 52 years of age, I’ve got plenty of knowledge of my golf swing and I’ve figured it out. Figured it out quick. Lee, it’s not a matter of proving anybody wrong. You don’t have to prove that anything to anybody. It must feel pretty good though walking down 29. walking down walk coming back in 29 must feel pretty good. Not that you’ve got anything to prove to me. Yeah. No, you know, I didn’t even know I shot 29 till I sat down and scored 10 was up there. But it felt felt good. You But I knew I was playing well, you know, sort of had it on a string and was hitting it in all the right spots. It’s nice to play golf like that. Absolutely. When you don’t when you’re not thinking. Yeah. In terms of next year, would you have any particular memories of Burkeale or how would you rate it as an open road? I love Bergdale. It’s one of my favorite golf courses and I played it um about a month and a half ago and they’ve made some changes and I don’t want to judge it too early but I didn’t think they were they’d improved it. Quite different. It’s very different. Yeah. The changes they’ve made um will take some bedding in. So you’ve shot a couple of 62s in the last couple of years, but what is this back nine rank in terms of like a nine hole stretch for you? When’s the last time you felt like that? Well, I mean, rather than rank it, you know, I shot 62 in Washington the final day and, you know, there there is no reason why I shouldn’t shoot low scores. I’ve always, you know, shot low scores in my career. I’m not afraid to when I make a few birdies carry on and and make more. I’m not like I don’t get defensive or anything like that. I’ve always just had this thought of just carrying on and and just keep on going for it. Um so, you know, rather than rank it, it’s just a sign that I’m, you know, when I when I do get the right thoughts in my head with the golf swing, you know, I’m capable of shooting low scores. And what’s nice is I’ve done some work, a lot a lot of work with Andy Paisley on my footing since sort of April time. And now I’m looking at 20footers thinking this I’ve got a chance of holding this cuz they’re starting where I’m aiming and I’ve always been a pretty good green reader. Good. Well done, man. Thank goods. Cheers. Joe was.