The Open 2013: Lee Westwood plans to 'kick back on the couch' after surging back into contention
The Brit posts a card of 68 to leave him two under par
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Your support makes all the difference.Lee Westwood quickly had his afternoon activities planned today after claiming a share of the clubhouse lead in the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield.
"Kick back on the couch and watch them struggle," Westwood said after a second round of 68 left him two under par alongside Sweden's Henrik Stenson and world number one Tiger Woods, although the second Test at Lord's was also on his viewing schedule.
The 40-year-old had raced to the turn in 31 thanks to birdies at the first, second, fifth, eighth and ninth, before another birdie on the 12th briefly took him into a share of the lead with Zach Johnson on five under par.
Bogeys at the 13th, 14th and 18th took some of the shine off the day, but the former world number one felt his score could be leading by the end of the day with the course drying out as it did yesterday afternoon.
"I thought one over would be right in contention so to be two under is a real bonus and it could be leading at the end of the day," Westwood said.
"The greens were a little softer this morning. I repaired a pitch mark on the second and third but that was about it as far as that was concerned. They started to firm up pretty quickly."
Those firm conditions had prompted complaints from a number of players yesterday, but Westwood was not among them.
He said: "It's a major and I love playing the Open Championship.
"It's the biggest event of the year for me. Why not enjoy it out there? It's tough for everybody so smile your way through it."
Westwood is still seeking his first major title and recently enlisted Sean Foley - coach to US Open champion Justin Rose and Woods - to work on his long game and former Open champion Ian Baker-Finch to improve his putting.
He described enjoying a "bit of a light bulb moment" with Baker-Finch earlier this month - the pair are neighbours in Florida - and said today: "I did a lot of work with Ian, he gave me a couple of tips on getting the tension out of my arms."
PA
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