Victorious Westwood takes leisurely approach to Pebble Beach

LEE WESTWOOD is confident his US Open preparations will not be hampered by a late finish in Memphis on Sunday that resulted in the World No 3 claiming his second win on American soil.

Twelve years after his first victory in New Orleans, the Worksop golfer who now builds his seasons around the four majors, gave himself the perfect confidence boost going into the second career-defining tournament of the season by edging out Robert Karlsson at the fourth play-off hole.

And having already done a reconnaissance mission with two practice rounds at the Pebble Beach links last week, he feels under no pressure to rush to Southern California and play catch-up.

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Westwood, who tees off alongside Tiger Woods and Ernie Els on Thursday, said: "This week is a little bit draining with the temperature it gets to but, because I've been to Pebble Beach and done most of my preparation, I can take it easy with that for the next three days and build up my fitness and stamina for when the tournaments kicks off.

"When I played it, the course was in spectacular condition. A real test. It's going to be tough."

He was handed the chance to win in extra holes at the St Jude Classic by American Robert Garrigus, who blew a three-shot lead on the final hole.

"It's definitely nice to win again," said Westwood, who has finished in the top three in four of the last seven majors.

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Malton's Simon Dyson plays alongside JJ Henry and Germany's Alex Cejka on Thursday.

Defending champions East Riding are the only unbeaten team in the Yorkshire Inter-District League after a convincing 28-8 defeat of Halifax-Huddersfield at Hull made it two wins out of two. York are the best placed of the chasing pack after a 25-11 win over Leeds at Headingley. Bradford claimed the scalp of Sheffield, winning 22-14, while Teesside beat Harrogate 20-16 at Otley.

A trio of Yorkshire golfers among the 288 players competing in the British Amateur at Muirfield and North Berwick will need to shoot low scores today if they are to qualify for the matchplay rounds which begin tomorrow. Sixty-four players and ties progress but Scott Campbell (Hallowes) and David Booth (Rotherham) shot 78 while Noel Emmerson (Saltburn-by-the-Sea) fired a 79.

The Yorkshire team of Campbell, Daniel Wasteney, James Maw, Adam Best, Paul Lockwood and Liam O'Neill finished second to Lancashire in the English County Championship qualifier at Wallasey.

The Yorkshire PGA Championship tees off today at Willow Valley. Eighty-one players contest the 36-hole strokeplay event over the next two days.