Lee Westwood Focuses On Enjoyment Rather Than Targets At The Open In Royal Portrush

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Lee Westwood expressed satisfaction with his performance at The Open, despite not setting any specific goals. Making his first major appearance in three years, he concluded the opening round with a two-under 69 at Royal Portrush. This placed him two shots behind leader Matt Fitzpatrick, while notable players like Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood had yet to complete their rounds.

Westwood, who finished fourth at this venue six years ago, is more focused on enjoying the event than winning. "I haven't come in with any targets just to enjoy myself," he said. He decided to qualify only three weeks prior and performed well at Dundonald, a course he had never played before. His love for Portrush and The Open motivated his participation.

The challenging weather conditions did not dampen Westwood's spirits. "It was enjoyable until the rain came down then got testing and miserable! But I've thoroughly enjoyed being back here," he remarked. He praised Portrush as a well-designed course that remains playable even in tough conditions. The fairways guide players on where to hit, offering a fair links test.

Darren Clarke, a Northern Ireland native and 2011 Open champion, faced difficulties during his opening round in the rain. He ended four over par and needs a strong performance on Friday to stay in contention for another title. Clarke shared with BBC Sport NI: "Four over wasn't what I was hoping for."

Clarke reflected on his practice sessions where he performed well but struggled during the actual round. "In my practice I was hitting the ball nicely, putting nicely and doing everything well, but that's golf," he explained. Despite some poor shots on the front nine, a chip-in on 17 provided a positive moment.

Westwood appreciates the opportunity to play creatively rather than relying solely on precise yardages typical of indoor golf. "It's nice to not be playing indoor golf all the time and just hitting it to a yardage it's nice to be able to use some creativity," he noted.

A birdie on the seventh hole moved Westwood to three-under during his round.

Clarke acknowledged making errors by missing shots in wrong places but remained hopeful for improvement. "On the front nine I hit shots that wouldn't make you think I was a member here," he admitted. Despite these challenges, Clarke remains determined to perform better in subsequent rounds.

As The Open continues at Royal Portrush, both Westwood and Clarke aim to navigate the course's challenges while pursuing their individual goals amidst changing weather conditions.