Lee Westwood at Indonesian Masters
World number two Lee Westwood birdied the last hole on Saturday morning to lead the halfway stage of the Indonesian Masters by one.
The Englishman, who returned this morning to finish two holes, posted a six-under-par 66 in a round of eight birdies against two bogeys at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
His two-day total of 10-under-par 134 was a shot better than little known Shaaban Hussin of Malaysia and Korean Park Hyun-bin in the inaugural US$750,000 Asian Tour event.
Thailand’s Thitiphun Chuayprakong fired a 68 to sit in fourth place on 136.
Pariya Junhasavasdikul, who shot the best round of the week so far with a superb 65, was a stroke back with compatriots Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Prayad Marksaeng and Thongchai Jaidee. Englishman Simon Griffiths and Filipino Antonio Lascuna were also tied in fifth place.
Round two was suspended on Friday due to lightning and resumed Saturday morning at 6.30am where a total of 47 players returned to complete their round.
Westwood reverted to the conventional putter from the belly putter which worked wonders for him as he birdied his opening four holes before making the turn in 32.
He added a birdie and bogey on holes 12 and 13 and was on the charge with another birdie on 16 before play was suspended yesterday.
He returned this morning with a par, birdie finish to give himself a fighting chance of winning the Indonesian Masters and regaining the world number one position from Martin Kaymer if Luke Donald does not win in the United States.
“I had an early start this morning and wanted to get going. I finished off nicely. I had a tricky lie on 17 after hitting it in the rough last night and got it on the green and two putted for par. I played some nice shots on the last and hit my approach to four feet which I sank for birdie,” said Westwood, who will celebrate his 38th birthday this Sunday.
“I wasn’t happy with my belly putter in the first round. I putted really poorly and still shot a 68 so that was a positive. But I decided to go back to the short putter and I have a bit of faith in it. I had 26 putts and if you do well from tee to green, you are going to shoot a good score,” added the Englishman.
The halfway cut was set at two-over-par 146 with a total of 68 players making the cut.
