LOCH LOMOND, Scotland (AFP) – Barely 48 hours after he had contemplated walking off in exhaustion, Lee Westwood surged into contention at the Scottish Open with a round that briefly had him thinking of breaking 60.
After nine birdies in his first 12 holes, the Englishman believed he was in with a chance of achieving golf's holy grail - a round of 59 - in Saturday's third round.
A bunkered tee shot on the long 13th and a bogey on the following hole ensured it was not to be. But Westwood's seven-under-par 64 was still good enough to move him to ten under for the tournament - in sight of overnight leader Retief Goosen - and strengthen his credentials as the most likely European to challenge Tiger Woods at next week's British Open at Turnberry.
"I was thinking about 59 stood on the 13th tee," Westwood admitted. "Even with a bogey on five, I'd had nine birdies in the first 12 holes and two great chances to come.
"The longest putt I'd had was about 15 feet on the 4th and 12th, which shows how good I was hitting it tee to green.
"Unfortunately we had to wait for what felt like ten minutes on the 13th and then the same again on the next tee. Those sort of things just break your rhythm occasionally but I'm really happy with the I played. All departments felt good."
Even if he had not broken 60, Westwood looked a good bet to better Goosen's course record of 62 before he misjudged the wind off the 13th tee and then missed the green at the 14th.
The display was all the more remarkable given that it came just 48 hours after Westwood had contemplated pulling out of the tournament because of a chest infection which had limited him to just four hours sleep on the two nights prior to Thursday's opening 73.
"It just shows I'm a man who needs his sleep," he said. "When I was three over after two on the day and feeling dreadful, I was almost thinking of walking off.
"With four hours sleep in three days you're not going to feel like playing golf. It felt like I had somebody else's head on my shoulders. I was dizzy, I couldn't focus. It felt almost like I was hungover."
Westwood's infection, which he attributed to the effects of having his tonsils out last year in an attempt to address recurring bouts of tonsilitis, was brought under control by a dose of antibiotics and, after 15 hours sleep ahead of his second round, fired a 66 on Friday that he also thought could have been three or four shots better.
Understandably, Westwood's form has left him bullish about his prospects for next week's trip to Turnberry.
"I played it on Tuesday and there was a nice breeze blowing around the front nine and it's as perfect a set-up as you are ever going to get on a links course.
"It is a good course for a long straight driver but, like for every major, every facet of your game has to be on song."
At 36, Westwood is aware that he is entering the now-or-never years of his career in terms of making the breakthrough to becoming a major winner, and feels well-prepared for the challenge.
"I've seen both sides of the coin," he said. "I've been top four in the world, freewheeling, but I've also had to grind it out and wonder where the next good score is coming from.
"I've probably had more experiences than most people out here, so I hope that's right that people do peak at 36 or 37."
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