LEE WESTWOOD SAYS he has only himself to blame the shot at the 18th hole that eventually cost him last year’s BMW PGA Championship.
The Englishman’s approach at the first play-off hole spun into the water, paving the way for countryman Luke Donald to take the win at Wentworth.
This year, the final hole has been altered, with a bunker removed and the fairway raised, in an attempt to stop a similar scenario reoccurring. While world number three Westwood is again one of the favourites, Donald and Rory McIlroy will prove strong challengers at the European Tour’s flagship event.
“It shouldn’t have gone to a play-off last year really, if I’m being critical of myself,” Westwood said today. ”I had my chances. It was my own fault.
“I didn’t play the shot that I was trying to play. I didn’t execute it properly, it had too much draw on it and it pitched too far left, so it had a lot of right to left spin on it.
“I’m not a big fan of blaming other things, it was more my fault that shot.”
No less than 15 former Major champions feature in the field, including Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Martin Kaymer and Charl Schwartzel. Westwood, who was also a runner-up at the tournament in 2000, said he was excited to be returning for the event.
“It’s always nice to come back to Wentworth,” Westwood said. ”It looks like a great week’s weather, and it makes it an even more special week if people are walking around in warm sunshine and it has a summery feel to it.
“It’s a week that I think everybody that plays on the European Tour and is a European Tour member looks forward to,” he added.
