English veteran Lee Westwood fired a stunning 10-under-par 62 to take a share of the early second round lead in the Maybank Championship at Saujana Golf & Country Club.
The 44-year-old nailed 11 birdies against just one dropped shot to continue his love affair with Saujana’s Palm Course, where he won the first of his two Malaysian Open titles in 1997. Westwood’s second round was 10 shots better than his first and placed him top of the leaderboard on 10-under-par with Japan’s Yuta Ikeda and Scotland’s Marc Warren as the morning flights came in.
“Until the eighth hole, my 17th, I hadn’t holed anything over five feet … tee to green it was brilliant. It was enjoyable, there were a lot of birdies going in out there. It’s nice to be in contention and I know this golf course well. I won the Malaysian Open here 21 years ago now and was touring pro for this course, so I’ve probably played it more than most and I know where to hit it,” said Westwood, who served as Saujana’s touring pro from 1997 to 1998.
Malaysia’s Gavin Green kelp himself well in the hunt with a rather up-and-down 69, mixing six birdies against three bogeys. The 2017 Asian Tour No 1 lies three shots back of the leaders on seven-under-par heading into the weekend.
(more to come)
