Golf: Life's a beach for Lee ahead of US Open

LEE WESTWOOD is grateful to have done some early homework at Pebble Beach ahead of this week's US Open after earning some down time with his St Jude Classic victory on Sunday.

World No.3 and European No.1 Westwood brought an end to a 12-year title drought in the United States at the weekend when he beat Ryder Cup team-mate Robert Karlsson at the fourth hole of a sudden-death play-off on a steamy Memphis Sunday evening.

Yet the physical toll of playing in the heat and humidity of Tennessee will have been eased by the knowledge that the Englishman had done some invaluable preparation at the Pebble Beach Golf Links before heading to the St Jude Classic.

Westwood, 37, played the US Open venue on California's Pacific coast on the Sunday and Monday of the previous week and that experience has allowed him to relax and recharge his batteries ahead of the year's second major.

He said: "The week was a little draining with the temperature it gets to here but because I've been to Pebble Beach and done most of my preparation, I can take it easy with that and build up my fitness for when the tournaments kicks off on Thursday."