Belief back with Sun City win, a buoyant Westwood is ready to challenge in Dubai
Lee Westwood returned to the winner’s circle at the European Tour on Sunday after four years, although the NedBank Golf Challenge victory in South Africa’s Sun City elicited mixed reactions his children.
His son, Sam, takes a keen interest in the game and therefore his father’s fortunes.
That was evident when he caddied for the former world No 1 at Valderrama a few weeks back. So, according to Westwood, Sam was “delighted and full of chat”.
His daughter, Poppy?
Not so much, Westwood said in Dubai yesterday. “You know, ‘Oh, who’s a clever boy then?’ That’s what I got from her.”
Tough crowd. To be fair, Westwood went on to explain how Poppy was obviously proud of Pops, whose win at the Nedbank Golf Challenge – his third success at the tournament – ended a drought dating back to April 2014.
The emotions came afterwards in the live TV interview with Sky Sports Tim Barter, where Westwood choked up attempting to describe what a 24th victory on the circuit meant to the now 45-yearold player.
Predictably, the tears garnered plenty of attention.
“I don’t mind a little cry every now and again,” Westwood said. “I cry at films about animals and stuff like that. You know, it was an emotional time. If something means a lot to you, then you’re going to be emotional when it turns out right and when it happens.
“You doubt yourself all the time. The older you get, the more you do that, and you start so think: ‘Am I getting too old now?’; ‘Is it going to happen again?’; ‘Am I still good enough?’ Absolutely, it’s a natural human reaction I think.”
As the final-round 64 and the three-shot victory on Sunday suggests, he was clear-headed when it mattered.
“I controlled my emotions well all day when I needed to,” Westwood said. “And to be honest, whenever I’m interviewed by Tim Barter, it makes me feel like crying.”
Westwood has had little time to gather his thoughts – he flew straight to Dubai – and is almost straight into this week’s DP World Tour Championship, which brings down the curtain on the 2018 European Tour.
Westwood won the inaugural event in 2009, an incredible performance around a nascent Earth Course that cemented his position as Europe’s No 1. Clearly, he returns this time in fine fettle. And, sometimes, victories are like buses.
“I’m experienced enough and won enough tournaments often enough, and won tournaments back-to-back, to know that you can kick on from something like this and use that confidence and momentum I’ve got from playing well on Sunday in the final round into this week,” Westwood said.
“Because I’ve only got one tournament left this year before I put the clubs away, until Abu Dhabi next year.
“It would be nice to carry last week’s confidence and form into this week.
“Obviously it’s a golf course that suits me and I’ve played well on and I’ve got a pretty good game plan for. So why not make the most of it?”