Solid Masters start for leader Westwood

World number three opens 2nd round with a par at Augusta.

AUGUSTA: Britain's Lee Westwood opened his second round with a par to remain atop the Augusta National leaderboard. The 18-hole Masters leader is seeking his first major title in 55 attempts.

World number three Westwood has finished in the top-three in five of his past nine major starts and the 38-year-old Englishman hopes his strong iron play will bring victory on a course where approach shots are often the key to winning.

"I’ve come close recently,” said Westwood.

“I’ve had a good career and all that’s left is to win a major championship and that is my primary focus now.”

Westwood ran off four birdies in a row in a front-nine stretch in a five-under par 67 round to take a one-stroke lead over Sweden's Peter Hanson and South African Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2012.