Westwood fumes after nightmare hole
Lee Westwood is certainly going to remember the K Club’s 182-yard 12th if he returns next September for the Ryder Cup.
While Welshman Stephen Dodd holed-in-one over at the 170-yard third, the 12th hole cost Westwood a quadruple bogey seven today in the second round of the Smurfit European Open.
Winner of the title on the course in 1999 and 2000 the former European number one had resumed on one over par and then fell eight behind overnight leader Trevor Immelman with an opening bogey six.
But that was nothing compared to what followed. With the flag positioned close to the lake Westwood’s tee shot made the carry, but then rolled back and came to rest on rocks.
Unable to play from there he went back to the drop zone, but again saw his ball fall down the slope and this time into the water.
The third attempt made it and he slung his club back towards his bag, but when he missed the putt he angrily chucked the ball into the lake and then tossed his club again.
His mood was soon to pick up, however. Although there further bogeys at the 14th and 17th Westwood birdied the 16th, 18th, first and second to recover to four over.
Ryder Cup team-mate Ian Poulter had a rapid transformation in his fortunes as well. After a nightmare 81 yesterday he followed birdies at the 15th and 17th with a 40-foot eagle putt on the long 18th and improved to five over.
Immelman, one of the day’s later starters, remained in the outright lead. France’s Francois Delamontagne, joint second with defending champion Retief Goosen overnight, could do no better than 38 for the inward half and slipped to four under.
Goosen, Immelman’s playing partner, was joined on five under instead by England’s Jonathan Lomas, who with seven holes to play had still to drop a stroke in the tournament.
Dodd, playing with Colin Montgomerie and Graeme McDowell, moved to one over with his six-iron ace, but Montgomerie and McDowell were down on four over.
Padraig Harrington looked like missing the halfway cut five days after winning in America for a second time this season.
Harrington’s opening 79 was his worst round in Europe since 1998 and with five holes remaining he stood eight over. He did birdie the first and second, but they followed bogeys at the 15th, 17th and 18th.
Also heading out was Paul Casey, currently in the worst slump of his career. Casey, who pulled out of the US Open two weeks ago after an 85 left him in last place, was 10 over after 10 holes.
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