Golf
I'm not best, but not far off, says Westwood
(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-04-28 09:57
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 Lee Westwood of England smiles as he pulls his putter out of his bag on the seventh green during final round play in the 2010 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 11, 2010. [Photo/Agencies] |
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - Lee Westwood has never been one to blow his own trumpet, so he was pleased to have an opportunity on Tuesday to clarify a recent comment in which he appeared to claim he was the world's best golfer.
After finishing runner-up to Phil Mickelson in the Masters at Augusta, Westwood was quoted as saying: "I'm playing the best golf of anyone. It's hard to argue for anyone else. If you are (the best) you might as well say it. It builds confidence."
Westwood was asked about that comment during a press conference here ahead of this week's Quail Hollow Championship.
"I've been out here long enough to know that things get just twisted around slightly to suit people," the Briton told reporters.
"Somebody asked me, 'tee to green, do you think you are the best player in the world at the moment'?
"And I said 'the way I played at Augusta, which is the last time I played and the last time all the best players in the world got together, I led the greens in regulation, so it was very difficult to argue against that the last time we all played.
"At least talking to you here now I can tell you the question I was asked and what I replied."
Westwood has enjoyed a leisurely fortnight break since the Masters. Last week's airline shutdown in Europe scuppered a holiday in Barbados, so he spent the time instead at home in the Midlands in England.
Now he is back in the United States for this week's PGA Tour event, as well as next week's Players Championship in Florida.
"I feel a bit rusty," continued the world number four, part of a star-studded field headed by Tiger Woods and Mickelson.
"After the Masters, I felt I needed a bit of a rest, so I've been switched off the last couple of weeks, but I think I'll sharpen as the week goes on hopefully.
"It's nice to be back at Quail Hollow. It's an old, traditional course that makes you think a lot. You have to drive the ball well.
"All your game has to be in good shape and once you get on the greens, there's some really fast putts out there. These are as quick as anything I've seen all year."
