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The Open 2013: Lee Westwood rues loss of form at Open

Last updated on .From the section Golfcomments108

The Open: Lee Westwood reflects on his final round at Muirfield

Lee Westwood said not doing "enough right" on the last day of the Open cost him the chance to win a first major.

The 40-year-old led by two shots after 54 holes but his worst round of the championship, a 75, saw him finish in a tie for third at Muirfield, four shots behind winner Phil Mickelson.

"I didn't play badly, but I didn't play great," said the Englishman.

"It's a tough course - you've got to have your 'A' game. I missed a few shots out there."

Westwood made five bogeys as he slid down the leaderboard to finish on one over, while American Mickelson shot the round of the day - a 66 - for a three-under total.

"Sometimes you play well and somebody plays a bit better and sometimes you play poorly," he added.

"I didn't really do either and Phil obviously played well. He shot the round of the day, five under par and birdied four out of [the last] six - that's a pretty special finish in a major championship.

"But you've got to play well to give yourself your own momentum, and I just couldn't get there today.

"I didn't do a lot wrong, I just didn't do enough right. I know what I've got to work on."

Highlights of The Open

Westwood, who has finished either second or third at a major eight times in his 62 attempts, "really enjoyed" the experience of beginning the final round as leader.

He said: "It's where any professional golfer wants to be. It means a lot and you go out there and try your best, but there was no pressure.

"I was amazed to be in the lead going into the fourth round, because every time I turned into the wind I was really struggling.

"I didn't feel like I was striking the ball well but I putted lovely this weekend. I made my fair share so there was a lot of positives to take out of the week.

"I'm not too disappointed. I don't really get disappointed with golf any more."

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108 comments

  • Comment posted by ADB, at 13:08 22 Jul 2013

    Obviously Lee didn't play the final round he was looking for. Underneath his calm exterior i feel he was seething with himself, as his usual strengths let him down and he feels he should have won, and he'd be right. That said, going forward if he maintains this putting style winning a major will happen, and probably more than one.

  • Comment posted by dazzlingdublinblue, at 12:30 22 Jul 2013

    I said before the competition that Mickleson wouldn't win back to back tournaments and I was on. Going into the afternoon session I had a fiver on Stenson to win but he was close and no cigar.

    Respect to Phil for a brilliant last round. Roll on the PGA!

  • Comment posted by U14026861, at 10:51 22 Jul 2013

    Great champions raise their game when it matters, meanwhile taking the pressure off themselves.

    Mickelson showed how it's done, Westwood showed how not to do it.

  • Comment posted by jarvish, at 10:34 22 Jul 2013

    Westwood has bottled majors before, but this was not one of them. Mickelson was simply magnificent, and a 75 from Westwood was not terrible looking at all scores on day 4.

  • Comment posted by U14435643, at 10:08 22 Jul 2013

    Ermm, well, yes..... I think that much is clear.

    But fair play to Westwood for fronting up to the media, and being so gracious, so soon after his massive disappointment.

  • Comment posted by Kapnag, at 14:57 22 Jul 2013

    A round like Mickleson's would suck the fight out of his competitors. What a round to win the tournament. Phil won this one more than anyone else losing it. When the lead is only shot, things can change so quickly. Phil suffered from Rose putting him under pressure at us open, now it was his turn to turn the screw

  • Comment posted by U4269237, at 14:34 22 Jul 2013

    I think every player who wants to really win The OPEN in the future should play some links golf the week prior to acclimatize their game, away from the generous course layouts and friendly playing conditions of most PGA America and Euros courses.

    Phil deserved this win because he did his homework and made the effort to play in the Scottish Open - he knew the shots he had to hit and executed well!

  • Comment posted by U15792242, at 14:27 22 Jul 2013

    @50 bluebayou

    Do detect a transatlantic accent there by any chance?

    You keep knocking links golf by referring to it as beach hockey and insinuate it is just luck of the bounce that wins. Modern golf was developed on links courses and The Open as well as being the oldest MAJOR is a true test of a golfers repertoire of shots. The target like golf played weekly on the USPGA tour is dumbed down golf

  • Comment posted by U15198894, at 13:32 22 Jul 2013

    Self Critique and pressure will always get to a sports person at some point, Lee did say in an interview on Saturday he not been playing that well all week, however his putting was in good form and carrying him through, it looks like his game just could not stand up to the extra pressure on the day, a real shame; its another learn and may be the key to unlocking future wins.

  • Comment posted by U15792242, at 13:24 22 Jul 2013

    A shame, I like Westwood but he just didn't seem to be able to make something happen when he needed it, it was as if he was just hoping others would drop shots. It was shocking to see him leaving putts short towards the end when he needed to make birdies. Mickleson on the other hand produced a truly great round including a stellar back 9 - thoroughly deserved, his greatest win in his own words!

  • Comment posted by U14995855, at 11:48 22 Jul 2013

    "I didn't play well enough".... Stating the obvious !!! Well done to lefty tho...what a fantastic round and fully deserved his rewards.
    Keep at it Lee....one day, just one day, you might convert the last day lead in to a Major success...we're all keeping our fingers crossed you do...one of golfs nice guys.

  • Comment posted by Berbear, at 11:39 22 Jul 2013

    LW was punished by a few poor errors of judgement, going in the cross bunker was an incredible error & being that short on the par 3 was a bad call

    BUT what is the point of beating himself up after the event?

    Move on come back stronger, the positives are his chipping & putting looked better than they have for years, he played well for 3 days regroup & look at the next tournament

  • Comment posted by U14724576, at 11:38 22 Jul 2013

    Worse players than Westwood have won Majors,better players than him haven't. He deserves credit for keeping going, and not appearing to let it bother him.

  • Comment posted by U14435643, at 10:41 22 Jul 2013

    9.JDandfries

    Golf fans adore Mickelson. He 'makes shots' and attacks pins when he's in contention, rather than waiting for things to happen or others make mistakes

    But he was out of order with what he said on Thursday night. But he's admitted that himself and apologised. So move on, I suppose. Though posters are within their rights to refer to it when we get more 'narratizing' from the media

  • Comment posted by willythewombat, at 10:37 22 Jul 2013

    Golf is an individual sport, he tried his best and sometimes that's not enough.

    Well done Mickelson.

  • Comment posted by U14333658, at 10:02 22 Jul 2013

    Westwood, though he played well over the first 3 rounds, he used his "get out of jail" cards a few too many times. On another subject. McIlroy should look at Mickelson re attitude to links courses and what a right mindset can achieve

  • Comment posted by sirlemons11, at 12:26 22 Jul 2013

    There was some really awful golf played yesterday, Scott at one of the par 3's was woeful but found a great lie and still bogeyed. Westwood putted very well, he turned a couple of double bogeys into bogeys or he wouldn't have had an advantage at all, as he said he was surprised to be leading as he hadn't played well. 3 weeks to the final major!

  • Comment posted by Arkham_insane, at 12:11 22 Jul 2013

    Well done Phil, great round, pity the BBC coverage ignored you for most of it. Seriously google it, lots of people disappointed by the lack of coverage on the final mickelson round.

  • Comment posted by Batesieboy, at 12:07 22 Jul 2013

    Well done Phil for having the brains to enter (and win) the Scottish Open in order to prepare properly for the Open. Such an obvious thing to do...thank you Bookies for the lovely 20-1 odds, as well!!

  • Comment posted by I know it was you Fredo, at 10:40 22 Jul 2013

    @ 6

    Westwood's attitude is not " second best is acceptable " . watching him interviewed over the past few years he is clearly desperate to win a Major . He always comes over as being totally irritated by the stupid questions he gets from journalists who know nothing about golf. Westwood will be gutted after this loss .

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