Westwood eager to improve record

GOLF: Lee Westwood returns today to the event which has given him more misery than any other. In 10 trips to the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, England’s world No 1 has never made it beyond the second round.

He faces a former winner on the opening day in Arizona – ex-Ryder Cup team-mate Henrik Stenson, called into the 64-man field when Japan’s Toru Taniguchi withdrew with neck trouble.

Defending champion Ian Poulter relayed a message from the Swede, champion in 2007, to Westwood on arrival in Tucson.

“Henrik says you better bring your ‘A’ game No 1,” tweeted Poulter. “He fancies getting hold of that trophy again.”