Westwood changes warm-up

LEE Westwood will make his 56th attempt to win a major next week and, for the fourth year running, is warming up at the Shell Houston Open. There is a difference this time, though. He did not stop at Augusta en route to Texas.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are among those who like to start their Masters preparations early, but Westwood has changed his mind on that.

“I didn’t think it was that necessary,” the 38-year-old world No 3 said. “It’s a nice place to go and soak up the atmosphere with nobody there and get some work done, but the course isn’t really reflective of how it’s going to be on Thursday morning next week.

“It changes so much in three days. I just decided not to this year and thought the extra couple of days at home would do me more good.”

Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and Phil Mickelson are also in this week’s field and so is Ernie Els, who has to win to qualify for The Masters.