ABERDEEN STANDARD INVESTMENTS SCOTTISH OPEN

July 9, 2021

Lee Westwood

The Renaissance Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Lee, great round of 65. Let's talk about the finish to your round. Talk us through the last three holes, especially 16?

LEE WESTWOOD: Yeah, I felt like I was playing well out there. And then, you know, stood on the 16th tee, even par for the round, looking at the leaderboard, that doesn't really seem that good. Felt like I was moving backwards. I was pleased I was patient most of the day, and patience rewarded.

Hit a big one down 16 and a nice 4-iron from 246 yards or something like that and it landed in the right place and rolled out stone dead. Always nice to walk up there and have a tap-in for eagle. Gave me momentum for the last two holes. 17, rolled that one and then driver and 9-iron at the last 20 feet behind the hole and rolled that one in. That will make dinner taste sweet tonight.

Q. Taking you back to 12, you had a crucial putt for par, just as important as all those birdie and eagle putts?

LEE WESTWOOD: Absolutely. Bogeying those two holes, I was playing solid and felt like a bit of a kick in the teeth and got all of Scotland right of that flag on 12 and I hit it left. Gave myself a little bit of a talking to walking up there. Not a particularly good lie, bumped it up, went 18 feet past. But they are the kind of puts you need to roll in for momentum and turned the tide. Great drive on next. Still remained patient and was rewarded on 16, 17, 18.

Q. You look like you're playing some of the best golf of your career, you look relaxed and confident. Is that how it feels?

LEE WESTWOOD: Yeah, I'm enjoying it. I get to get up every day and do something I love and my swing feels in a good place and you've seen how I'm putting, I'm rolling my fair share and when that happens, I feel like I'm a good enough player to still contend. Yeah, and it's even better with Sam on the bag, and Helen when she caddies.

Q. Playing at abrdn Scottish Open, how special is that with your son at the bag?

LEE WESTWOOD: Really special. He tries to do it whenever he can. He did it as the Masters, and if I get in The Ryder Cup, he's going to caddie there, as well. It's a great father/son bonding experience. Not that we are not already close, but it's great to go out and do what I love with him right next to me.

Q. That looked like a terrific three ball, all three of you having fun and playing terrific golf.

LEE WESTWOOD: Yeah, we enjoyed ourselves. We played some good golf and all birdied the last which was nice. To walk off there with three threes and crowd enjoyed it. It was a fun day. The weather behaved. We didn't get wet. I finished eagle birdie, birdie, so gives me a good platform to build on tomorrow.

Q. Tell us about the approach shot at 16, a 4-iron, 246 yards, when you hit it, did you know it was going to be as close as it was?

LEE WESTWOOD: Yeah, it came off really sweetly and it was a perfect yardage I thought, and I had worked it all out. I thought it was maybe a little left of the hole and you're never quite sure how it's going to land but it landed off a good spot and came around that little ridge there and was nice to see it tap-in distance when I came over the top of the hill. They are real bonuses when you don't have to think about it too much for eagle.

Certainly there's a lot of birdies available if the weather stays like this, you're going to see the low scoring continue, as to how many people have still got a chance and what the winning score will be, I have as much idea as you.