Lee Westwood has performed brilliantly well during the first two rounds of The Open Championship
Westwood qualified for The Open Championship a few weeks back, and it seems like he has rediscovered his passion for competing.
It was a tough day out on the links at Royal Portrush on Friday. However, Westwood battled hard to shoot a round of one-under par 70 to sit inside the top 15 at The Open after two days.
The 52-year-old has been a LIV golfer for three years now. Westwood recently suggested that LIV’s lack of world ranking points is a big problem.
However, he is still a big proponent of LIV Golf.
That said, his mind is firmly focused on The Open Championship right now.
Despite his own impressive form, Westwood was hugely impressed by one player in particular at Portrush.
Lee Westwood says Chris Gotterup is ‘dark horse’ to win The Open
Chris Gotterup has enjoyed an incredible past week or so.
The 25-year-old American PGA Tour player won the Scottish Open last week and now he’s bang in contention at The Open, with two rounds remaining.
He is currently tied for fifth on five-under par after rounds of 72 and 65.
Westwood was clearly hugely impressed by the long-hitting American.
The Englishman responded when asked what he thinks of Gotterup as a player.
He said: “Really impressed. I’d say over the last couple of weeks with the qualifying and then the practice rounds and then playing with Chris today, I’ve seen some really good young talent in the qualifying, Connor Graham from Scotland, a couple of good lads from Charlotte, UNC. Is that University of Charlotte? A couple of great players there. Some great young players, which I’m not surprised about. There’s so many good young players about now, but they’ve come through the qualifying.
“Obviously Chris is a different kettle of fish. He’s got very impressive game. I think there’s probably — the way he penetrates the ball and plays off this links turf, it’s ideal for links play. He can keep it down, drill it out there with a driver, looks to have a good short game, nice putter. He’d be like a dark horse for an Open Championship, one of those guys that it would surprise most people if he won, but it wouldn’t surprise me.“
Chris Gotterup responds to Lee Westwood’s Open prediction
The 25-year-old is clearly a young man who doesn’t lack confidence.
He responded when asked what he thought of Westwood’s suggestion that he is a dark horse to win The Open.
Gotterup said: “I feel good. Obviously coming off last week I know where my game is at. I know it’s in a good spot. I think it’s one of those things where you’ve got to — this is definitely more of a marathon tournament than anything. You never know what — who knows what the weather is going to be like tomorrow. You don’t even look for the next day because it’s different in the morning. It’s one of those things where I feel like I’m plotting around the course well. 14, for example, today, I hit it in the bad spot, take my bogey and move on. I don’t feel like I’m getting too greedy out there. I feel like I’m just doing a good job of taking what I’m given.“
Gotterup is currently five shots off the lead at the midway point of The Open, while Westwood is a further two strokes back.
Judging how they have both played during the first two rounds at Royal Portrush, it should surprise nobody if both of them go on to contend this weekend.
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