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Westwood shoots 11-under 61
13/09/2007 18:49 - (SA)
Pulheim, Germany - Lee Westwood found an old putter in his garage and used it to equal his career best with an 11-under-par 61 Thursday in the first round of Mercedes-Benz Championship.
The Englishman took a four-stroke lead after a furious finish left him just one shot short of Fredrik Jacobson's course record 60 set in 2003. Westwood went 7-under on the last seven holes, shooting 29 on the back nine.
Westwood said poor putting cost him a chance to win his last two events. After finishing tied for sixth at last week's European Masters, he returned home on Sunday and rummaged through a garage full of old putters.
"I sifted through a few and picked one out that felt nice and sat nice," Westwood said. "My putting has been dreadful for most of the year, and it was starting to irritate me, but I made more putts today outside of 15 feet than I have in the past two weeks."
Soren Hansen was second with a 65, ahead of Englishmen Nick Dougherty and Simon Dyson at 66. John Daly shared fourth place with a 67, after collecting five birdies against two bogeys.
Daly also eagled the par-5, 476m 15th hole, a feat duplicated by Westwood, who chipped in from 14m.
Daly was among six former major winners playing at the no-cut event, which has a field of just 78 players.
Westwood recorded 10 birdies to go with the eagle in his round. On the last seven holes, he dropped two birdies from six meters (18 feet), one from three (12) and another from seven (20).
The Mercedes-Benz is the only tournament in Germany that Westwood hasn't won.
"So of course it'd be nice to add it to my list of career wins," he said. "But it's only the first day. Having said that, I'm very pleased to get off to such a quick start."
U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera struggled to a 74, but other top names had good rounds. Paul Lawrie and Andres Romero carded 68s, while tournament host Bernhard Langer had a 69.
- AP
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