Lee seeks fairytale victory 21 years on

VALDERRAMA was where Lee Westwood started his fabulous Ryder Cup career back in 1997. This morning, it’s also where the veteran Englishman will seek a fairytale victory six years after his last success on European soil. No-one was more frustrated than the 45-year-old when play was suspended yesterday afternoon at the Valderrama Masters due to storms. He was four-under par after eight holes and within three shots of his old Ryder Cup playing partner, Sergio Garcia, who has 11 holes to complete. Garcia, of course, is favourite. He is the defending champion and seeking an amazing seventh tour success on Spanish turf. But that might suit Westwood, who has been playing well. Also in the mix are Irishman Shane Lowry at four behind, and Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano on the same mark. All told, 116 tour cards will be handed out and Fernandez-Castano stands 125th. Also in for a nervy finish are Marc Warren of Scotland and England’s Matt Nixon, who are tied sixth in the tournament. Warren, who began the week in 144th place in the Race to Dubai, was projected to finish inside the top 116 until a double-bogey six on his last hole of the day dropped him to 129th. Nixon is in a projected 119th spot so needs the best nine holes of his life today. Meanwhile, at the Hero Women’s Indian Open, there was an emotional victory for Wales’ Becky Morgan, who finally made it to the winner’s circle in her 18th year on tour. ‘It’s a mixture of excitement and relief,’ she said.