Just as Thomas Björn did in the third round of the US PGA Championship seven days ago, Lee Westwood set Saturday alight this week in the World Golf Championships – NEC Invitational at Firestone Country Club, a superb seven under par 63 propelling him up the leaderboard.
The 32 year old Englishman had threatened to play well in the first two rounds but his scores of 73-72 did him little justice. However, the third round proved to be a different proposition as seven birdie putts found the bottom of the cup to move him to two under par 208 for the tournament.
“I was right on the edge of playing well in the first two rounds but the course here is punishing and if you start missing fairways, even by a couple of yards, it is difficult to post a score,” he said.
“But I didn’t do that today, I hit a lot of good shots and hit a lot of shots close. The more I play over here the more I feel like I do get into the rhythm of things and start to get the most out of my game.”
Westwood got off to a flying start with birdies at the tenth and 11th holes, but his round truly ignited when he rattled off four birdies in a row from 15th, the highlight being a sublime seven iron to 18 inches at the 17th.
Such an impressive run saw the 16 time winner on The European Tour International Schedule to the ‘turn’ in six under par 29, a record for the back nine in the Championship at Firestone.
He could not quite repeat the fireworks on his inward half, his only departure from par coming at the 526 yard second hole when his five wood approach found the front fringe of the green from where he proceeded to two putt for birdie four.
