Lee Westwood leads at windy Augusta

Submitted by admin on 04/06/2012 – 11:59 AMNo Comment

Lee Westwood leads at windy Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP)– Lee Westwood might be wondering if he or she’s contending for a green coat or the claret jug.

In hunt of his 1st main title, Westwood bundled up in extensive sleeves and also returned to the course Friday at the Masters– a day that seemed even more like a British Open.

He began his day with 5 pars to stay in the lead after being greeted by gusting winds as well as climates in the 50s– pertaining to a 25-degree comparison to opening day when he or she shot 5-under-par 67 to take a one-shot advantage over Louis Oosthuizen and also Peter Hanson.

Oosthuizen strained in the weather condition, making the turn at 3-over 39 to fall off the leaderboard.

Ben Crane, on the other hand, birdied the par-5 2nd to move to 4 under, connected for 2nd place with Jason Dufner, the Auburn graduate who played his morning round in a stocking cap.

Zach Johnson, Bubba Watson and Jim Furyk were subsequent at 3 under. Furyk, the only member to finish the preliminary without a bogey, quickly broke that streak on No. 1 on Friday, however observed that by having 2 straight birdies to get to 3 under.

Phil Mickelson (2 over) created his day by having a par and Rory McIlroy (1 under) made 2 to begin the day. Tiger Woods (even) had a morning tee time. All 3 have indeed earned this year and were taken into account to be amongst the prime contenders coming into the year’s initial significant.

Westwood injected his label into that mix, as well. The world’s third-ranked user, one of the best to never acquire a significant, certainly looked at ease as this individual created his objective on Thursday.

They made four straight birdies on Nos. 5 via 8 and didn’t experience a put of more than 10 feet on any of them.

He took the lead after the preliminary of a major for the initial time in his profession.

“I thought if I drive the ball effectively, which I generally do, then I’m going to have a chance to get it close to flags and also from there, it’s simply an issue of exactly how several putts I hole,” they stated.

They made it look as effortless as it appears. He or she knows as well as any person, however, that it’s constantly simpler on a Thursday.

Westwood has six top-three surfaces since 2008. At Augusta two years ago, he or she was the innovator heading in to the final round. On that day, he three-putted the ninth green to drop the lead and ended up as a bit player while Mickelson gained his 3rd green coat.

Westwood’s techniques after all these close calls?

“When you’re in opinion and don’t finish it off, you go property as well as examine what you didn’t do as well as just what you can boost,” he or she said. “And that’s exactly what I did.”