Augusta? I’m not thinking about it, says Westwood

TALK about a Texas scramble. With the 86-man field at next week’s Masters being the smallest for 20 years, a cast of wannabes and desperados have gathered at the Houston Open in a bid to claim the final spot reserved for the winner, if not already Augusta-bound. Among those hoping to seize it are Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Englishman Ian Poulter, denied a spot after the world rankings showed him an agonising three-hundredths of a point off a place in the top 50. Then there is Lee Westwood, who has played in the Houston Open for more than a decade and has found it such ideal preparation for Augusta that he has six top-11 finishes in his last eight Masters appearances. However, Westwood, who is 45 next month, has accepted his time at the top is coming to an end and arrives here having enjoyed his first extended break for 25 years. He said: ‘The only other player who has competed at the top for as long as I have without a break is Phil Mickelson, so it’s hardly a surprise that I have enjoyed not playing golf for the last six weeks, with another month off after this event. ‘The Masters? I’d love to be playing, obviously, but I’m not in it, so I’m not thinking about it.’ Westwood turned down the chance to work for Sky and the BBC next week. He will be at Augusta on Tuesday for a corporate dinner but will then return home, where he may or may not watch it on television. Some believe he should have received a special Masters invitation, given his past record, but Westwood said: ‘I had my chances to qualify but I haven’t played well enough, so I don’t deserve to be there.’