“The PGA Tour changes? A copy of the LIV Series”
Lee Westwood, statements
Lee Westwood, one of the new faces of the Arab Super League, returns to attack the top American men’s green circuit that has recently announced the news of the 2022-2023 calendar between changes and increases in prize money.
“I laugh at what the PGA Tour players helped to come up with – Westwood declares to GolfDigest – There are many self-righteous golfers. Many argue that LIV Golf is not competitive but then ask for events without a cut and reduced fields.
Now, strangely, they have proposed 20 tournaments that closely resemble those of the Arab Super League ” Lee John Westwood (Worksop, April 24, 1973) is an English golfer. Westwood’s first win on the European Tour came in 1996 at the Volvo Scandinavian Masters, followed soon after by the Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters in Japan.
His run of success continued in 1997 with the defense of that Japanese title win, followed by wins at the Benson & Hedges Malaysian Open, the prestigious Volvo Masters in Spain and finally Westwood defeated the great Greg Norman in the Holden Australian Open playoff.
He also played in the Ryder Cup together with Nick Faldo in what was, for him, an extraordinary year. Despite this, Westwood was able to surpass these successes in the next few years and had his peak in the 2000 season when he clearly dominated the European tour with six tournament wins.
At the 2004 Ryder Cup, Westwood potted the putt that secured the cup defense and, with 4½ points from a possible five, was the top individual player in the European team’s historic 18½ to 9½ triumph.
In 2006 he was made captain’s pick by captain Ian Woosnam for the side that defended the trophy with the same result. Westwood has made ten consecutive appearances (since 1997) on the European team. In 2009, Westwood was more successful than ever, especially in the second half of the year.
He was close to winning his first major at both the British Open and the PGA Championship. He shared third place in both tournaments. He was victorious this year at the final tournament of the European Tour in November. With 23 under par and a six-stroke lead, he won the so-called Dubai World Championship.
4.2 million euros in prize money also meant victory in the money list, the Race to Dubai. The double triumph in the final tournament and in the annual standings of the European Tour had only been achieved by two other players before, most recently Colin Montgomerie in 1993.
“My success in 2000 was a high point in my career. But I was still very young and green behind my ears. I’d been through four tough years in the meantime and I’m very happy that I was able to come back,” said Westwood after the win.
In total, Westwood has won 23 events on the European Tour and has had further tournament success in North America, Africa, Asia and Australia. On November 1, 2010, he temporarily took the lead in the world golf rankings for the first time.
