Tension-free putting assisting Westwood in his title pursuit

The 40-year-old from Worksop fired a three-under-par round of 68 yesterday morning to force his way into the reckoning for the most prestigious title in golf.

It could have been a lot better as Westwood hit the turn in five under par for his round and was six under and tied for the lead after 12.

But even with three dropped shots on the treacherous closing few holes, Westwood made a significant move up the leaderboard in the fairer conditions yesterday morning.

Then he went back to his rented house for the week and put his feet up as the leaders failed to pull away from him on the baking greens.

“We had an advantage this morning,” he said at 1.30pm yesterday after moving to two under for the tournament and tied second behind halfway leader Miguel Angel Jimenez.

“I’ll kick back in the afternoon on the couch, watch some struggles and the cricket.”

Westwood must have been revelling in schadenfraude as Zach Johnson, Brandt Snedeker and Rafael Cabrera Bello all struggled to attain the heights they had reached on day one.

Johnson’s fortunes fluctuated on the marble-top greens as he tumbled down the leaderboard, regained top spot and then fell away again.

For a time he had company at the summit in the shape of Angel Cabrera – a man who only seems to turn up at majors – before he also fell away.

It left Jimenez all alone on three under after the 49-year-old shot a controlled 71 to strengthen his bid to become the oldest major champion in history.

Westwood is in good company a shot back, with Tiger Woods firmly in the hunt after he ended a mixed bag of a round with a birdie on 18 that has been a rarity this week.

Henrik Stenson and Dustin Johnson are also at two under while home favourite Martin Laird, Zach Johnson, Cabrera and Cabrera Bello made it nine men under par a shot further back.

Had he held onto the rhythm he generated over the opening 12 holes, Westwood could have been in the lead on his own as he chases that elusive first major.

Birdies at one, two, five, eight and nine had him humming along while one more at the 12th saw his name rise to the top of the leaderboard.

Dropped shots at 13, 14 and 18 checked his momentum, but any errors he made he did not compound, which on these rolling links could be pivotal this weekend.

“It’s not easy out there and I think 68 is a good score,” said Westwood, who missed the play-off at Turnberry by a shot four years ago.

“I was pleased to be six under through 12, I was playing some great stuff. I was feeling comfortable and hitting the ball well.

“It was just getting harder as the holes progressed, tougher to score, tougher to get close.”

Westwood has been in this position before, numerous times, but there are two factors that suggest he has the conviction this weekend to finally finish the job.

One is his putting – so often his Achilles heel yet this week it has been as good as anyone’s as he has nervelessly rolled in putts of 10 feet or more.

“I go through spells where I’m feeling confident on the greens,” said Westwood.

“I got a couple of tips on getting tension out of my arms and having a bit more control.

“And I’m getting it on line nicely and I’ve gauged the pace of the greens well.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing Muirfield and felt it suited my game well.”

The fact he is playing so tidily on the greens is the cause of the other ingredient that suggests that this could belatedly be the week for him – his relaxed state of mind. Often fractious at an Open Championship as the pressure on him to deliver in a major is magnified, he was jovial with the media yesterday as he mischievously spoke of his afternoon plans in front of the televison, and put his own spin on the greens farago that had dominated Thursday’s agenda.

“This is the biggest tournament of the year for me, and why not enjoy it out there?” said Westwood, in response to all the criticism the R&A had received.

“It’s tough for everybody, so smile your way through.

“It’s a major championship, they’re supposed to be difficult. And one of the defences is sticking the flags away on slopes etc.

“Live with it. There’s not many majors where you turn up and it’s a birdie-fest and you make a bogey and you feel like you’re being lapped by the field.

“It’s just a case of not following a bogey with another three bogeys in major championships, limiting the damage and picking up birdies whenever you can.”

As Westwood edged closer to his dream, the nightmare continued for Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald.

Donald at least showed a flicker of life by shooting a 72 to add to his woeful 80 on Thursday which resulted in a total of 10 over.

But McIlroy went from bad to worse, falling to 12 over after an outward half of 40 left him no hope of making the cut. He at least kept his score from getting any poorer but it has been a sobering week for the world No 2.

Justin Rose was not able to replicate his US Open feat as he fell short on 10 over.

Sir Nick Faldo added a 78 to his 79 and looked like he wished he had not bothered coming out of retirement as he struggled to meet old standards.

There was better news though for Ian Poulter and 2011 champion Darren Clarke, who are not far behind at one over after they each shot a 71, while Graeme McDowell remains in the hunt three shots further back.

[email protected]