Westwood shares Maybank Malaysian Open lead with Canizares

Alejandro Canizares of Spain currently joint leaders with Lee Westwood of England at the Maybank Malaysian Open going into the third round. -SS KANESAN/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: It’s looking great for Lee Westwood in his Maybank Malaysian Open title defence.

Everything seems to be going right for the former world No. 1 as he produced another solid performance at the Kuala Lumpur Golf Country Club (KLGCC).

He overcame hot and humid conditions to shoot a five-under 66 for an 11-under133 total to share a three-stroke midway lead at the US$3mil (RM10.67mil) event. Joining Westwood at the top of the leaderboard was Spaniard Alejandro Canizares, who stole the limelight after he birdied three of his last four holes to card the lowest score of the week seven-under 65.

Last year’s runner-up Bernd Wiesberger of Austria shot a five-under 66 for an eight-under 136 total to be placed third while England’s Paul Waring (68) and Ireland’s Paul Lawrie (66) shared fifth – four shots off the pace. England’s Richard Bland and Canadian Richard T. Lee shot 70 and 69 respectively for a six-under 138 and joint sixth spot. Overnight joint leader Graeme McDowell dropped to eighth after a disappointing 73 for a 139 total.

But the day belonged to Westwood again as he rolled in six birdies – though he was left lamenting a bogey on the fifth.

“I played nicely again,” said world No. 30 Westwood. “It was pretty solid again and I probably only hit one poor shot all day ... from the middle of the fairway on the fifth hole. I was going in with a five-iron and shot it right into the water.

“Other than that, it was very good and I felt very comfortable out there ... I hit a lot of fairways and some good iron shots and made some nice putts. “It was great to birdie two of the last three and go from one in front to three in front.

Teeing off in the afternoon at 12.50, under the scorching heat, may be daunting for some but it’s no big deal for the 41-year-old Westwood, who has won 14 titles in Asia.

Asked how it felt playing in the searing heat, he quipped: “It was beautiful out there, I was even tempted to put a sweater on once or twice! “You obviously have to battle through the conditions in the afternoon. It’s like playing in the sauna, but you come to expect that when you play in Asia. I’m used to it and it obviously suits me.”

Canizares was pleased that his putter got hot at the right time as his flawless round of seven birdies put him in contention for a third European Tour title. “It was a lot of fun and I played really well,” said the 32-year-old. “I also putted really well.”  

-thestar online.