Player Interviews
Saturday, June 20, 2009Lee Westwood
LEE WESTWOOD: All 66, yeah.
Q. When people talk about how much Nicklaus used to say, that he could hear the complaints and rule this guy out of the U.S. Open, etc., is it hard to get into your mind that even though the other half got the great end of the draw, just to go play and not worry about how much different the conditions would be for you?
LEE WESTWOOD: Not really. I've always been pretty mentally strong. You end up on the good side of the draw a few times, these things tend to even themselves out and you get the bad side of the draw.
I just went out with the idea of trying to be in front on my side of the draw, and, you know, I've managed to do that, so I'm delighted.
Q. What were the conditions like when you're sitting and not having the opportunity to get out there and see guys throwing darts the way they are, what's your approach then as you finally get released on to the course?
LEE WESTWOOD: It was great yesterday afternoon, sitting and watching them play and all that, and so I really felt for them sweating in that heat.
That was good golf to watch on TV, that's for sure. But not much fun when you've shot what you thought was a good 72 and you think 69 is leading, and all of a sudden, you know, like you say, it's like throwing darts out there.
Q. How aggressive were you determined to be coming out today?
LEE WESTWOOD: Well, we were pretty good for three holes and then a bit of breeze picked up and then the rain came. I made most of the three holes. I made birdie on 10,11, 12, which is exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to get off to a quick start and managed to do that.
Q. Putting yourself in a position where you're four strokes off the lead, you must feel strong about the way you've played and your position going into the weekend.
LEE WESTWOOD: Well, you can turn it around to your own advantage and say that having gone in at 2‑under par from the worst side of the draw, that gives you real confidence that you're in with a shout over the weekend.
Q. Considering how close you came last year, a year later, you're in a position now where you can maybe take it. Did the situation last year really make you want it that much more?
LEE WESTWOOD: Yeah, I've always wanted to win a major, but you can only do what you think is the right thing ‑‑ I can only do what I think is the right thing for Lee Westwood to win one of those. I've been doing that and last year gave me a good chance, came up one shot out of the playoff, but gave me a lot of confidence. Played okay in that last round with Tiger and taking a lot of positives out of that.
Q. When you walked off the green yesterday, or whatever day that was, with the 72, at that moment, did you feel hopefully not too bad? Was there a point later on where you could only hope they didn't stretch it out too far?
LEE WESTWOOD: No, I had seen the weather forecast for the rest of the day, for it to warm up and dry out and sun come out and there would be no wind. So I figured they would have it better than us, but that's just one of those things.
Q. As much as you've paid attention to the forecast, are you surprised that you're standing here with 36 holes behind you; just the fact that you finished?
LEE WESTWOOD: I'm amazed we've got a full round of golf in today. I thought the weather forecast was looking pretty dicey, and probably still is.
So fingers crossed, get a few holes in tonight and maybe get finished Sunday night. But if it goes into Monday, it goes into Monday. Just about everything has been thrown at us this week, so why not a Monday finish, too.
Q. Did your tee time change overnight for today?
LEE WESTWOOD: I don't know. Did it? 10:28, it was.
Q. Is that what it was when you left the course yesterday?
LEE WESTWOOD: I had even various times but no one confirmed it. It wasn't until I rang the USGA office here that I actually got my official time and that's the one I went with, fortunately. Fortunately, I turned up ten minutes before that and they let me play. That's how it works.
Q. What was working for you today?
LEE WESTWOOD: I've driven the ball well for two days, I haven't missed many fairways, hit a lot of greens. Yesterday I gave myself a lot of chances and worked on it in nice weather and got a bit more rhythm into my stroke and it's paid off today. I had 27 putts today and that's the difference between 72 and 66.
