Westwood believes he can challenge after good start

LEE WESTWOOD believes links courses give the oldies such as him a real chance of Major success.

- By Chris McKenna

The 52-year-old Englishman shot a two-under-par 69 to give him a platform to mount a shock challenge at Royal Portrush, the 500/1 outsider’s strong start only slightly dampened by two bogeys on the back nine.

Westwood is competing in his 92nd Major and 28th Open but he has still yet to win one, despite nine top-three finishes.

But, after this fine start, with wife Helen Storey on the bag, he is starting to believe he could join Phil Mickelson as a Major winner in his 50s and go one step further than Tom Watson, who at 59 came close to glory in 2009.