Westwood BETTER THAN EVER
Lee Westwood claimed his first European title, the Volvo Scandinavian Masters, in 1996, earning the best part of £150,000 in the process. Earlier this year, Westwood lifted the Abu Dhabi HSBC trophy and pocketed $1.2 million for his efforts. Needless to say, much has changed in the game during the 25 years the popular Englishman has been pounding the fairways of the world’s professional Tours. In an exclusive interview with John Huggan, he reflects on the highs and lows of a career that just keeps on delivering.
Let’s start bang up-to-date. How did you cope with the long lay-off and what did you do with yourself?
I coped fine, to be honest. None of my family caught the virus. So we achieved that goal. I was working out and training a lot. Helen (fiancée) has been with me, and Sam (son) occasionally. I was on the Peleton a lot, too. My legs are stronger, which should help me down the road. And Steve Macgregor has given me other exercises that are specific to golf. I also did a few jigsaws and a bit of cooking – both of which are good fun. As is trying to sleep as much as possible. I like a lie-in of a morning.
Did you hit many balls?
Just in the net in the garden. And I was swinging a heavy club, too.
Which parts of your game do you think will take longest to get sharp?
“JIGSAWS AND COOKING ARE GOOD FUN. AS IS TRYING TO SLEEP AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. I LIKE A LIE-IN OF A MORNING!”
The short game is normally what comes back last for me. I always have to practise my way into that a bit. But I’ve been used to taking a couple of months off and not hitting many balls. I’ve done that the last few years. I’m not a big practiser any more. I can pick things up pretty quickly. I know what I’m working on and I revisit videos to see what I need to be doing. I’ve been doing it too long to forget how to do it.
When you’re off, you’re really off?
The first few weeks, I never go near my clubs. But as I get closer to playing again, I hit balls then actually play a bit, too. I start with nine holes and build-up to 18. I like to get some miles in my legs. When I was younger, I never liked to be not hitting balls. I always wanted to know what I was doing. So I never went more than a couple of days without hitting at least a few. I always wanted to be ‘in the groove’. But now I have no problem switching off. We went to Thailand between Christmas and New Year. I didn’t take my clubs and didn’t hit balls for 12 days. Then I hit a few when I got back. I was in Dubai for few days before Abu Dhabi, though. Not playing doesn’t phase me.
Can it be a mistake to be hitting too many balls?
I’ve taken a page out of Monty’s book, really. He never practised a lot. And he practised even less as he got older. I look at the lads at the top of the game. Tiger doesn’t play a lot. Neither does Adam Scott. A
