Lee Westwood faces a battle just to make the cut after beginning his Open campaign with a scrappy 73.
World number three falls away on back nine of opening round
Lee Westwood faces a battle just to make the halfway cut after beginning his Open campaign with a scrappy three-over 73.
The world number three, playing in his 58th major tournament, got off to a flying start with two opening birdies only to give both shots back at the third.
He bogeyed seven and nine to turn in 33, but his recent swing problems resurfaced on the inward stretch as he dropped four shots in five holes to drop down the leaderboard.
"I'm struggling with my swing a bit at the moment. I've been working at it for three or four weeks," said Westwood. "The ball goes either left or right - not often straight.
"The start was a bit of a lie. You'll get found out pretty quickly round an Open Championship course," he added in reference to the 478-yard third, where he blocked a five-iron approach into sand and flew the green with his recovery.
"I need to play better - I'm not going to make up any shots playing like that."
One of Westwood's drives on the back nine ended up against the face of a fairway bunker, forcing him to splash out playing left-handed.
"I can't remember the last time I had to play left-handed, never mind out of a bunker," added the Englishman.
