Lee Westwood makes bold LIV Golf claim during US Senior Open
English LIV Golf duo Lee Westwood and Richard Bland are both competing in this week's US Senior Open at Newport Country Club.
Lee Westwood claims everyone he has spoken to so far this week is happy that both he and fellow LIV Golf pro Richard Bland are competing in this week's US Senior Open for the first time.
Westwood, 51, might be shut out from competing on the PGA Tour Champions as a result of his ties with the Saudi-bankrolled LIV Golf League, but he has been handed the opportunity by the USGA to tee it up at the 2024 US Senior Open at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island.
NEW: Qualifier makes cut and talks drug addiction battle at US Senior Open
It is understood that Westwood has still yet to pay off his outstanding fine on the DP World Tour for having diverted to the breakaway league in 2022.
That figure is estimated to be over $1m.
When pressed by reporters as to how his senior debut has been received by a number of PGA Tour Champions pros so far this week, the European Ryder Cup hero claimed everyone has been accepting of the USGA's decision to allow two LIV Golf players - Westwood and Bland - in the 2024 US Senior Open field.
The 25-time European Tour winner also admitted the story has been the same when a plethora of LIV Golf stars have been afforded the chance to compete in the three majors of the season so far at The Masters, PGA Championship and US Open.
Westwood said:
"The consensus of opinion of everybody that I talked to said it's great to see myself and Richard playing here.
"I think, when you look at the US Open two weeks ago or the Masters or the PGA Championship, people are happy to see Bryson or Cam or Jon Rahm coming and playing in those big events.
"It's basically getting all the best players together in one tournament to compete against each other, and that's what you want at the highest level. You want all the best players there."
As for the message he has been handed by LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman at this week's US Senior Open, fresh off his T3 at LIV Golf Nashville (his best result on LIV Golf) last week, Westwood said he's been told to keep the foot down.
Westwood said:
"We've been asked to play well this week and carry on the form of last week.
"My game is in very good shape -- hitting the ball well, hitting it a long way. Putting's good, which it has to be to contend in tournaments no matter where you play.
"I'm looking forward to this week. Looking forward to the first couple of rounds, playing with a couple of old friends, Miguel and Jerry Kelly."
Westwood has also been impressed so far with the pace of play on the senior circuit.
The former World No.1 noted:
"What I have noticed is practice rounds out here are way faster than everywhere else. It's such a joy, and it's so refreshing to play nine holes in two hours in a practice round. It's incredible. If the old guys can do it, why can't the young guys do it?"
Westwood opened up with a solid 4-under 66 in the first round of the US Senior Open.
That sees him just three shots off the pace heading into the second round.
Bland started with a round of 68.
