Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood lock horns in the opening round of Houston Open – Golf update
For everything else this week’s Houston Open has in store, Lee Westwood’s pairing with Phil Mickelson for the opening round is bound to bring some exciting golf for the spectators all around the world. Westwood dropped down to the world number two position
when Martin Kaymer walked over for the first slot in the WGC Accenture Match Play in Arizona. He needs a top-two finish in the tournament to regain the crown, before heading into the Masters.
"I feel like I am playing well - my game's in good shape. All of it seems pretty sharp.” Westwood said, "This is generally the time of year I start playing fairly well and hitting a bit of form. It's a good time of year to start playing well.”
Westwood shared the eighth position in last year’s Houston Open and has not been performing to his best. He suffered an early exit in the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship last month and also failed to resurface in last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The Englishman has been particularly concerned with his putting and is currently pondering over suggestions to bring changes in it. Westwood said he wanted to be in a competitive position before going into big events like the Masters.
Mickelson, on the other hand, has also been struggling to regain form. The left handed player often called “lefty” saw some of the worst slumps of his career when he finished in the 55th position in a field of 66 at the WGC Cadillac Championship.
Mickelson defeated Westwood in the final round of the Masters 2010 to win a Major Championship for the fourth time.
“I need a little bit more competitive golf - I've got some work to do," said Mickelson, "If I'd had a little more success earlier I probably would have not played Bay Hill. I'm not shooting the scores I need to shoot. I'm not concerned with the way I'm
hitting it or any particular element of my game, but I'm not shooting the scores."
Mickelson hit an amazing 14 bunkers in the tournament, when most of his tees went wayward, raising questions about his overall form. Also paired together in the tournament, are Jose Maria Olazabal and Davis Love. Olazabal has not played in the US since 2009
due to recurring rheumatic disorders.
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