Westwood defiant after coming back

13 April 2012

Lee Westwood says he is "sick of answering questions" about his game, so today he gave a defiant response at Lytham.

European No1 Westwood posted a one-under-par 70 to finish on one over and almost certainly book his place for the weekend.

The 28-year-old, who has missed four cuts in the last seven events, said: "There is a lot of satisfaction from grinding it out.

"I was off to a bad start, but conditions are obviously easier today and scoring will be lower. However, it is still a demanding course, still tough out there."

Front runner Jesper Parnevik said that the pins were in tougher positions today, but that the wind had faded and Westwood confirmed both judgments as he gained a shot on his overnight tally.

It would have been better had he not dropped a shot on the 18th, but then it could have been worse after starting with a bogey at the first and a double bogey at the third to go five over.

But Westwood put his problems behind him and by the turn was level for the day thanks to birdies at five, seven and nine.

Two more birdies at the 11th and 13th put him on level par, which is where he stayed until the last. After missing the last two cuts in the Open, Barry Lane booked his ticket for the weekend after taking some of his wife's advice.

The 41-year-old from Wokingham was told to be happy and just relax. It worked, for he finished on level par today to meet both targets.

One under overnight, Lane dropped shots at the second and third, but came storming back with birdies at the six, seven, 10 and 11 to go three under.

He dropped a shot on the 15th and a disastrous triple bogey on the 16th wrecked almost all of his good work. Only a birdie on the 18th green brought him any consolation.

Lane has not made the cut since 1995 and this is his first Open since Royal Birkdale in 1998. He has also missed 10 cuts in 17 European Tour events.

Today, at least, things seemed to be going the way of the man who is 56th on the European order of merit and celebrated his last tournament win in 1995. Sandy Lyle, who won The Open in 1987, started today's second round one over and maintained that with a par 71 today.

However, three Open champions are packing their bags.

Seve Ballesteros, a pale shadow of the cavalier who won here in 1979 and 1988, finished seven over along with 1969 Lytham winner Tony Jacklin.

Five-time champion Tom Watson was clearing out his locker after a 78 left him 10 over.

Westwood defiant after coming back

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