Westwood is big in Japan

LEE WESTWOOD, unfazed by the presence of legends, jointly leads the Dunlop Phoenix event in Miyazaki, Japan after two rounds. The 23 year old Englishman, a legend only in Worksop, has spent the last two days in the company of Masashi `Jumbo' Ozaki and Tom Watson, superstars the world over, but has managed to shrug aside the pressures created by their presence and, with rounds of 67, 68 jointly leads with Ozaki on 135, seven under par. Watson is one behind.

Watson, for the second day running, was impressed with Westwood, pointing out that during yesterday's round Westwood had, when required, moved the ball from right to left and from left to right "and that's impressive".

What was less impressive was the American's own putting stroke. It is one thing to hole from medium to long distance, quite another from the kind of distance where you know you will look silly if you miss. Watson is good at the former, still hopeless at the latter and he had no sooner hit a magnificent stroke at the 10th a three iron struck through a four foot gap in the trees 30 yards away to save par, than he was missing from two feet at the 12th.

Ozaki, as befits a man who has won six tournaments this year, has not had a bogey in the 36 holes so far. He holed a 30 footer at the 12th yesterday for a par and that got him going to the extent of three birdies in the next four holes.