Westwood in shape
Last updated: 18th January 2008
Westwood: in the gym with Golf Night's Mark Roe
When you're younger you feel sort of indestructible. Then you hit that 30 barrier and you realise you need to be in shape.
Lee Westwood
Quotes of the week
Think Lee Westwood, and dumbells are not necessarily the first things which come to mind.
A far more familiar image is of the former European Order of Merit winner sinking pints of stout with great mate and Ryder Cup colleague Darren Clarke.
The two friends were once famously branded as too overweight to be genuine major contenders by South African legend and fitness fanatic Gary Player.
But Westwood has worked hard to get in shape over the past couple of years, an undertaking which reaped results on the golf course in 2007 as he broke back into the top 10 of the European Tour's money list.
And, as he told Golf Night from the surroundings of his home gym, it is a decision he should have made years ago.
"At the time it was irritating, but - in hindsight - I think (Gary Player) was probably right," the 34-year-old told our Mark Roe, who works with long-time pal Westwood on his short game.
"He's obviously got a lot of experience and he knew what he was talking about. I can see his point now - it's a fit man's game.
"This is as good as I've ever felt and I only wish I'd done it 10 years ago, when I was in my mid-20s.
"But it's one of those things - when you're younger you feel sort of indestructible. Then you hit that 30 barrier and you realise you need to be in shape."
Westwood's current regime, which focuses on strength and balance work, involves three or four days in the gym during non-playing weeks and one or two routines when he is in action.
He said: "The main place it has helped is when I've been trying to incorporate a few swing changes. Because my muscles are fitter, stronger and more receptive I've been able to make changes to my swing more quickly.
"There's a feelgood factor to working out - you get a buzz when you start to see improvements. It's given me a positive approach to golf and everything around it."
Westwood is, by his own admission, a late convert to a way of living which Tiger Woods, in particular, has been committed to for years.
"Tiger stole a march on everybody," said Westwood. "He's been doing it for years - working out and building up his body for golf - and it has to be specific to golf.
"You have to adapt it to the individual, because golf is a very individual sport...but Tiger is the benchmark and if you want to be as good as him you have to do what he does, or more than he does."
But while Westwood may harbour hopes of getting closer to Tiger on the course during 2008, he is happy to admit he has no chance of beating the great man at another sport - arm-wrestling.
He said: "I see Tiger on TV and when we're playing together and he looks like he has fairly big arms, so I won't be challenging him."
