4 weeks and then my bubble is burst
Westie says life on Tour has its limits
LEE WESTWOOD insists he doesn’t need a pint in the Jigger Inn to soak up the magic of St Andrews.
But he admits there’s only so long he’ll be able to last before he has to burst out of the European Tour bubble.
The Ryder Cup star will tee up in the Home of Golf today at the Scottish Championship, his fourth week in a row within tight Tour restrictions.
And the 47-year-old says that will be his longest stint going forward.
Westwood can’t enjoy his usual saunter around the streets, with players contained at the Fairmont.
And while he says the Tour are to be congratulated for their hard work, after Dustin Johnson became the latest PGA star to test positive for Covid, staying insulated has its limits.
Westwood said: “Part of the charm of coming to play in St Andrews is going into the town and soaking up the atmosphere. But we’re stuck in a bubble this week so it’s very different.
“There are worse places to be and people are suffering a lot more than staying in a five-star hotel, being in a suite every night and playing golf during the day, so we shouldn’t complain too much. But four weeks will be my limit of playing ing tournaments when I’m inn a bubble. People are talking ing about comparing Europe with the US and their bubble is far less restrictive.
“Over there, it’s just playing a golf tournament with no crowds. You pass a test on Monday and that’s about it really. You’re not restricted with who you mix with or where you go – you can go to restaurants or to the gym.
“It’s far more restrictive on this Tour, hence why we’ve had so few positive cases. We’ve had two cases in 10-11,000 tests. We’re doing a good job of controlling it and it’s clearly what needed to happen.
“I wish everybody else could show as much discipline as the European Tour and its members have done.
“There’s definitely something missing but we’re living in strange times so youcyoucan’t have it all the way you want it.
“You should have your social life away from the Tour. You shouldn’t be coming out on Tour to go out and have a drink with the lads. It should be more professional than that.”
Westwood, who will be back in the States after this event, wasn’t shocked by the world No.1’s result.
“Not really,” he added. “It was bound to happen. Even if you put as many measures in place or are as self-aware as you could possibly be, there are still ways of picking it up.
“You have to be constantly on your guard. You only have to let it down a little bit and you could pick it up from anything – when you fill yoyour car up with petrol or go to a cacash machine. “Fair play to DJ for letting them knknow he had symptoms and making thethem aware as quickly as he could.” WWhile complimentary about the TouTour’s Covid approach, the same did nonot apply to their decision-making duduring this month’s Scottish Open. HHis bid was blown away on the SatSaturday as horrendous conditions left the Renaissance almost under water for the round’s latter stages. Westwood, who kept his counsel during the event, said: “You couldn’t see the pins, the ball flight, where the ball had gone around the back nine – I nearly lost a couple not far off line. “The greens needed squeegeeing on the last few holes, there were bunkers full of water with nowhere to drop so you’d have to take a penalty drop. When you get to that stage, it’s unplayable. I know Poults [Ian Poulter] holds the same opinion. “It all could have been avoided if they’d done a u-draw. The forecast was there to see from the Monday. It’s a situation the last 10 groups should not have been in.”