Westwood shoots new low of 60

Hot shot Lee Westwood proved Asia remains his happy hunting ground as he unleashed an Asian Tour record-tying 12-under-par 60 to lead after the opening round of the US$1-million Thailand Golf Championship at the Amata Spring Country Club yesterday.

The world No 3 Englishman knocked down birdie after birdie – 10 in all – plus one eagle on the second hole to take a five-shot lead over two-time Major winner John Daly at the 7,453 yard par 72 layout.

Westwood, hunting more Asian joy this season following wins in the Indonesian Masters and Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea, matched Taiwanese Liang Wen-chong’s record Tour low of 60 at the 2008 Indian Open.

“I got off to a pretty good start, you’ve got to say that – seven under through seven. Hit a lot of good shots. Obviously I’ve been working a lot on my putting lately and I’m starting to get more comfortable with that and I started to roll some nice putts in. I’ve never shot a 60 before,” said the former word No 1 whose previous best was a 61 in Germany. 

He also overwrote the previous course record of 64, scored by Japan’s Tetsuji Hiratsuka in round two of the British Open International Qualifying Asia earlier this year. 

“Asian courses seem to suit me. I have always felt comfortable here. I always enjoy playing in front of the crowds and I enjoy playing in the heat. I’m not a cold-weather person. I’ve always enjoyed coming out here. I’m successful here, winning all over the continent, in Macau, Malaysia, Japan four times, China. It’s been a good place for me,” added Westwood whose other 2011 victory was in South Africa earlier this month.

In his eye-watering harlequin pants, American Daly strutted the greens to pick up five birdies along with an eagle on the 11th for an error-free round that placed him lone second.

“It was solid. I thought seven-under might be a low round but what Lee [Westwood] did today was incredible. 

“I would have never ever dreamed that I would shoot a seven-under let alone a 12-under. 

“My hat, that I’m not wearing, is off to him because that was just an awesome round of golf he played,” said the 45-year-old Californian, who sits three shots ahead of local hope Thaworn Wiratchant and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy.

Thaworn, despite claiming his short game was a disadvantage on this long course, carded a promising 68 to leave him poised in joint third. The 44-year-old former Asian Tour No 1 sank six birdies against two bogeys to surge ahead of his local peers on the opening day.

“I went out there expecting just a square par. I was lucky because my long putts worked really well most of the time. But I can’t tell if it will be like this for the rest of the tournament. For this course, everything has to come together to have low scores,” said Thaworn who suffered during the ongoing floods, with his house in Don Muang submerged by almost a metre of water.

Masters champion Charl Schwartzel from South Africa was among the chasing pack in joint fifth place after carding four birdies against a lone bogey at the last hole to finish with a 69. 

Others in the same position were Taiwan’s Lu Chien-soon, American Michael Thompson, Japan’s Kodai Ichihara, Australians Scott Hend, Adam Groom and Brits Chris Rogers and Simon Dyson.

“This is a very tough golf course. It demands some good shots off the tee. There is a lot of water and it can be very penalising if you hit a bad shot. I played really good. I made four birdies and one bogey which I thought was a pretty good start considering how I’m feeling’” said Schwartzel whose donated items – a Masters flag and putter – raised Bt1 million in a pre-tournament auction for flood relief.

A stroke adrift on 70 were Thai ace Thongchai Jaidee and Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa, who share 16th spot along with nine other players. The so-called Shy Prince of Japan started well with four birdies before suffering a double bogey on the ninth hole.

“I was not as mentally tough as Thongchai and Westwood. They were handling things better when they saw the water. After I hit my shot into lake I was playing catch-up. They have more experience,” said the Japanese star.