GULLANE, Scotland — To term British sport as flush with pride at the moment is an understatement akin to calling Ian Poulter’s plaid pants loud.
With Lee Westwood leading Tiger Woods and Hunter Mahan at the British Open entering today’s final round, British sport has perhaps never been in a more favorable place than the last year.
The nation is still buzzing from Andy Murray’s Wimbledon victory — the first Brit to capture the prestigious tennis title since Fred Perry in 1936.
Englishman Justin Rose last month broke through with his first major championship victory at the U.S. Open.
English cyclist Chris Froome has a large enough lead in the Tour de France, ending today, he has time to stop on the Champs-Elysees for a cup of tea before he brings the title home to Great Britain.
And, of course, London still has its chest puffed in pride for its successful hosting of the Summer Olympics, which netted the city a reported $1 billion in profits.
What else in sports can go right for the Brits?
Westwood hoisting the Claret Jug on the 18th green at Muirfield might send this proud sporting nation into a party that would last the rest of the summer.
No one in the field is in better position entering the final round than Westwood, who is 3-under after shooting 70 yesterday. He has a two-shot lead over Woods and Mahan (both 1-under) and a one-shot lead over reigning Masters champion and 2012 British Open runner-up Adam Scott (even par).
Woods, 1-under and two strokes back, lost his chance to get in the final group with one swing.
Tied with Westwood as they played the par-5 17th into a stiff breeze off the Firth of Forth, Woods tried to hit 3-wood over a series of bunkers to allow for a simple wedge into the green. With his ball on the slightest slope, he got it up in the air just enough that the wind grabbed it and deposited the ball in the bunker. Woods had to blast out sideways and missed a 15-foot par putt.
Woods twice had at least a share of the 36-hole lead in majors a year ago and fell out of contention on Saturday. Despite the late bogey, he did well enough this time that he was only two shots behind. This is his best chance to end his five-year drought in the majors since the upheaval in his personal life at the end of 2009.
And while he has never won a major when trailing going into the last day, the outlook didn’t look bleak from his vantage point.
“I’ve got 14 of these things, and I know what it takes to win it,” Woods said. “He’s won tournaments all over the world. He knows how to win golf tournaments. He’s two shots ahead and we’re going to go out there and both compete and play. It’s not just us two. There’s a bunch of guys who have a chance to win this tournament. And all of us need to really play well tomorrow to win it.”
Still very much in contention are two-time major winner Angel Cabrera, who is seeking the third leg of a career Grand Slam, former Masters winner Zach Johnson, Henrik Stenson and Ryan Moore — all of whom are 1-over and just four shots off the lead.
Phil Mickelson, who shot a disappointing 74 yesterday, is on the cusp of contention at 2-over.
This, however, is as much Westwood’s to win or lose as any of the 62 majors in which he has played.
“Hopefully I can give it,’’ Westwood said of delivering more British sporting glory and becoming the first Englishman to win the Open since Nick Faldo in 1992 at Muirfield. “But the pressure comes from the expectation I put on myself. I don’t really live my life outside-in. I don’t live it and run it according to what other people think. I live it the other way around. So I have my own ideas and my own dreams and my own plans.’’
The 40-year-old Worksop, England-born Westwood, a likeable chap with a brilliantly dry sense of humor, is as due to win a major as any player who has stepped to the first tee at this 142nd Open Championship.
In his 61 majors, Westwood has finished in the top-3 seven times (two runners-up), in the top-5 nine times and in the top-10 15 times. He has finished in the top-10 in eight of the last 17 majors in which he has played and has suffered some heartbreak along the way.
“I’ve had lots of chances,’’ Westwood said. “Sometimes I’ve played well, other times I’ve played not too well. Even though I haven’t won a major, I know what it takes to win one. It’s just a case of going out there and having the confidence in my game, which I’ve got, and putting it to the test.’’
Westwood, playing in front of his parents and son this week, will be paired in the final group with Mahan, whose 68 yesterday placed him in the final group for the second consecutive major with a chance to win the first of his career.
“I’ll think about winning the Open Championship at some stage, I’m sure,’’ Westwood said. “I don’t see anything wrong with that — picturing yourself holding the Claret Jug at the final [green] and seeing your name at the top of the leaderboard.
“You try and picture yourself winning the Open Championship tonight, but forget about it tomorrow and go and tee off down the first, focus on it in the middle of the fairway with the first tee shot and then go from there.’’
With AP