Lee Westwood in fine fettle for USPGA tilt

LEE Westwood presented a new image to the world yesterday - lighter in body, much lighter in his approach to his career.

It was almost a laugh-a-minute routine at the USPGA Championship in Atlanta as England's world No?2 tried to take some of the pressure off his pursuit of a first major. First of all Westwood, who has shed 9lb by upping his training and cutting out "all the stuff that tastes nice unfortunately", could not remember surviving the cut on the same course ten years ago. Told he had finished 44th, he said: "Are you sure? Check that. Let's have a look - I don't think I made any cuts in 2001."

Shown the proof in the record books the Worksop golfer added: "I played nicely in 2001 and shot a couple of 68s, really loved the course and happy to be back. Good memories!"

Then, told about Rory McIlroy being impressed by his weight-lifting, Westwood replied: "I set two PBs (personal bests) last week - 354lb dead lift. A Chubby and a quarter."

The "Chubby" in question is their manager Andrew Chandler, who has the chance this week to complete his stable's own "Slam" of all four majors this season following the victories by Charl Schwartzel (Masters), McIlroy (US Open) and Darren Clarke (Open).

Westwood's more light-hearted approach comes after talking with American sports psychologist Bob Rotella, one of the people behind Clarke's success at Sandwich. "I haven't really worked with a psychologist at all throughout my career, so it just made sense to go and consult somebody," said Westwood. "Darren is a good one to consult with regards to which psychologist would be the best, having been through all of them pretty much."

Westwood and Clarke were both playing their 54th major last month and while one triumphed, the other missed the cut. Poor putting was the main reason for that and on that front Westwood has turned, just like McIlroy has, to American Dave Stockton. He and Rotella have both been emphasising the need to be more relaxed. "You'll see me not trying," he said.

"When you get into those positions, just enjoy it and have a free, clear mind - and play like it doesn't really mean anything. It's four rounds of golf, no different to the Indonesian Masters. I've done all the hard work now, done it for 20 years - it's time to just relax and let it flow."

Sunday is Clarke's 43rd birthday and, having celebrated his first major title all through the night and beyond, he said that if he won again: "I may go AWOL for a few days again."

Meanwhile, caddie Steve Williams has now said he should not have been so outspoken about winning a month after being fired by Tiger Woods. And the New Zealand caddie, so overjoyed at helping Adam Scott land the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron on Sunday, does not intend to make any more comments about Woods. "Looking back on it, I was a bit over the top," Williams said. "I had a lot of anger in me about what happened and it all came out."Williams called it "the most satisfying win of my career" despite having shared in 13 majors with Woods during their 12 years together. "I said what I said, but I'm not going to say any more about Tiger. I had a lot of emotions going on all week.. When we were coming down the stretch and all those people were calling out my name, I mean I've never experienced anything like that and when Adam won, all of a sudden, all that emotion poured out. But, look, it's time to move on. The Tiger thing is over."

Scott said that he and Williams had had "a chat about the whole thing", adding: "He feels the way he feels. I just took what he said as confidence for me. If he really feels that that was one of his great wins then I'm kind of flattered. He was asked these questions and he gave his honest answer I assume. "

Woods turned up later than expected for practice yesterday at the par-70 course and he is scheduled to hold a news conference today.