Lee piling it on in run-up to a classic

Lee Westwood admits he is feeling jaded after his recent exploits and a trip to Augusta National but that he never contemplated skipping this week’s Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.

England’s Westwood followed a tie for 61st in the Wgc-workday Championship with runners-up finishes in both the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship, where he held one and two-shot leads respectively after 54 holes.

The 47-year-old then played 36 holes at Augusta on Monday and another 18 on Tuesday with his son Sam, who will caddie for him this week and also in the Masters at Augusta in April.

“I’m a little bit tired, I must admit,” Westwood told a pre-tournament press conference. “I feel a little bit drained. My legs are feeling it a little bit.

“I played Augusta on Monday and Tuesday and we ended up playing 36 holes on Monday, which is not the easiest walk around there, and then 18 holes yesterday morning. So I’ve played a lot of golf recently.

“I suppose I’m not expecting too much this week, but I don’t know what to expect from myself at the moment. I’m obviously coming off two good results and my game feels good.

“I finished fourth here last year and it’s a course that sets up well for me, so I’m looking forward to it.

“I used to live just across the road at Old Palm, so it was a bit of a home game, and I’ve got a lot of friends in this area that might come out and support as well.”

Such factors meant that Westwood was determined

to fulfil his commitment to the event and test himself against the Bear Trap, the name given to the difficult 15th, 16th and 17th holes on the Jack Nicklausdesigned PGA National course.

“I never felt like skipping it or thought about it,” Westwood added. “I’ve got a good relationship with Ken Kennerly, tournament director.

“He’s been kind enough to give me invites in the past. He gave me one for this week, but I ended up not needing it through a good finish at Bay Hill.

“I really enjoy this golf course. I find it a good challenge.

“There’s a lot of shots out there where you’ve really got to commit and play the shot. I love the challenge of the Bear Trap. It’s always a bit blowy, which I like as well.

“This is a tough mental test, probably the toughest of the lot, I’d say, and the most mentally challenging part of it as well is at the end of it.

“Yeah, I’m feeling a bit jaded, but hopefully pull myself together.”

Defending champion Sungjae Im, who has played in 77 events in his first twoplus years as a PGA Tour member, returns to defend his first title.

Russell Knox is the only Scot in the field.

IRON MAN: Lee Westwood is going into the Honda Classic on the back of some impressive finishes.

Defending champion Sungjae Im.