How Did The European Tour Regulars Fare At The British Open?
By Matt Coles
Sunday saw Irishman Shane Lowry take home his first major title, and what a win it was, as he won the British Open in front of an adoring crowd at Royal Portrush.
After winning the British Open, the newest major Champion is now leading the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, and by some distance from Bernd Wiesberger, but what about the rest of the European Tour’s hopes in Northern Ireland?
Lee Westwood – T4: -6
The 148th British Open ended up being another close call for Lee Westwood, who finished in the top five of a Major Championship for the 12th time in his long career, the first of those coming in the Masters in 2000.
The tie for 4th at Portrush marked a season-high finish for ‘Westy’, bettering the T7 finish he achieved at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in Dubai in January.
Since then, the Englishman had been struggling for form, having missed the cut at the PGA Championship and Saudi International powered by SBIA, before finishing outside the top fifty at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open last week.
However, the British Open may have seen a change in form for Westwood. After an opening two rounds of 68 and 67, the former World No.1 sat in a tie for 3rd, alongside compatriot Tommy Fleetwood.
He still remained in contention after shooting 70 in the third round and sat eight shots behind leader Shane Lowry. A Sunday 73 saw him drop back from the eventual Champion.
However, in the poor conditions in Northern Ireland, Westwood’s 73 was one of the better rounds of the day, and he moved up the leaderboard into a tie for 4th with four-time major winner Brooks Koepka.
To top it off, his top-four finish sees him qualify for the Masters in April, after he missed out on playing at Augusta National this year.