Liverpool inspire Lee

SPORTS Anfield boost as Westwood seeks second Masters title

LEE Westwood will look to take inspiration from Liverpool’s Champions Leag ue t r iu mph ove r Barcelona as he seeks a second British Masters title at Hillside.

Westwood was one of several European Tour players among the crowd at Anfield on Tuesday as Jurgen Klopp’s side overturned a 3-0 deficit from the first leg to book their place in the final in Madrid on June 1.

“I think it’s one of those that you’ll sit down with your grandkids and you say, ‘I was there that night’,” Westwood said. “I think it’s that big.

“Just an incredible turnaround and you would never have sort of thought it was going to happen. But you always sort of hold out hope they might shake things up a bit and get some momentum.”

Westwood compared the win with the ‘Miracle at Medinah’ in the 2012 Ryder Cup, when Europe recovered from 10-4 down to defeat the United States, adding: “You kind of think this is not going to happen but let’s give them a scare and, all of a sudden, the momentum goes with you and the crowd get on your side. It was incredible.”

Westwood has played just five events so far in 2019 after failing to qualify for the Masters for the second year in succession but is relishing competing at a venue where he won a 36-hole amateur event as a teenager more than a quarter of a century ago.

“I won the Pines Trophy in 1990 and I think I won by six,” the 46-year-old said. “It was a tricky day and I think the first bogey I made was on the 15th in the afternoon.

“It’s one of those great English links golf courses, over the years unfortunately technology has sort of taken over it a little bit with regards to the length of it. But I’ve always loved it.”

This Ferry player sends his Dryburgh opponent a dummy.

Ferry (yellow) defeated Dryburgh in the U/17 Henry Dolan Cup Final.