Westwood takes counsel ahead of US PGA

World No.2 hopes new nonchalant approach will help secure first major

Untroubled: Westwood hopes the carefree outlook instilled by Dr. Bob Rotella will help at Atlanta this week

Lee Westwood is hoping that a new, carefree approach to the game will help him land a first major title in the US PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club, Georgia this week.

This season Westwood has continuously found his pure ball-striking undermined by inconsistency on the greens and in the search for that elusive first major, the Englishman has been led to consult the experts who counselled stablemates Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke to the past two major titles.

Since missing the cut at last month’s Open Championship at Royal St George’s, the 38-year-old has turned to the man credited with revitalising McIlroy’s putting, short-game guru Dave Stockton, as well as renowned golf psychologist Bob Rotella, who Darren Clarke consulted the week of his maiden major triumph at Sandwich.

While Stockton has fine-tuned Westwood’s technique, Rotella has imbued the Englishman with a nonchalant outlook on the greens – one that the world No.2 believes could be vital at Atlanta this week.

“Dave Stockton, I liked what I heard about him, people that had been to see him, how feel-orientated he was,” said Westwood.

“But psychology-wise, I haven’t really worked with a psychologist at all throughout my career. So it just made sense to go and consult somebody on it, and I think Bob’s the best, regarded as the best.”

The world No.2 explained the outlook Rotella had been trying to instill in his overall game: “A lot more light-hearted, relaxed. Difficult to put into words really. Other than that, you know, try and play the tournament like I don’t care really. You’ll see a routine that I’m comfortable with, but you’ll see me not trying.”

Westwood’s best finish in the US PGA came two years ago at Hazeltine, when he tied for third behind Tiger Woods and eventual winner, Y.E. Yang. The Highlands course at Atlanta this week should provide many of the same challenges as Hazeltine National’s lengthy, penal layout.

That is perhaps why, coming off the back of a top-ten in the WGC Bridgestone last week, many are tipping Westwood’s supreme ball-striking ability to prevail in Georgia.

Should the Englishman be hoisting the Wannamaker trophy come Sunday, it’ll be decidedly more difficult to maintain his blasé pretence.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered