Worldwide Golf

LEE Westwood made the perfect preparation for this week’s US Open at Pebble Beach with a play-off victory over Robert Karlsson and Robert Garrigus at the St Jude Classic in Memphis.

American Garrigus needed a six on the par-4 closing hole to win his maiden PGA Tour title but wound up with a triple bogey to drop back to 10-under-par, level with the two Europeans, and it was Westwood who prevaled with a birdie on the fourth extra hole.

“It’s definitely nice to win again,” admitted Westwood, whose last victory on the PGA Tour was in 1998 in New Orleans. “Nobody likes negative questions when you try to be positive all the time. Golf is a funny game. Sometimes it gives. Sometimes it takes away.”

Westwood began the final round three shots behind Garrigus but quickly raced into a one shot lead with three earlier birdies. However, Garrigus picked himself up with birdies of his own on holes 8, 10, 15 and 16 to take back the lead as Westwood could only play par golf.

Westwood then bogeyed the 17th to seemingly hand the title to Garrigus but the American then proceeded the blow his chances on the final hole in regulation.

On the first extra hole Garrigus was eliminated with a bogey before Westwood finally pipped Karlsson to the title with a birdie three holes later after the pair shared pars.

“It just shows you, don’t expect nothing in this game because you never know what’s going to happen next,” said Westwood.