Seve out as Westwood halts slump

There are not many similarities between Lee Westwood and Anna Kournikova but when the Russian model/tennis player threatened to walk out of a television interview after losing in the first round at Wimbledon the man from Worksop had some sympathy. "I know exactly how she felt," Westwood said. "Exactly."

Westwood's form over the last 18 months has been so wretched the former European No 1 has fallen from fourth in the world to 95th. He was not even eligible to play at the US Open a fortnight ago. A 67, four under par, in the first round of the Murphy's Irish Open at Fota Island yesterday suggested an improvement is on the way.

Where he has the considerable edge over Kournikova is in knowing how to win, having done it several times prior to the slump. He is hopeful of doing so again fairly quickly once he can get back in contention on a regular basis.

"When I get back in the melting pot, I've won before, I know what it feels like. When you have played as poorly as I have, it is nice to go out and play well. I am not particularly bothered if I don't hold it together all week. It's a step in the right direction, a glimmer of hope. It's nice to be looking forward to playing tomorrow."

Colin Montgomerie, who also finished on four under, played alongside Westwood and noted how confidently he walked off after his putts, as you would when making six birdies. The pair were a shot behind a leading group of five players on 66, which included the 20-year-old rookie Nick Dougherty, Eduardo Romero and American Fred Funk.

A journeyman of the US Tour, Funk requested invitations to play this week and at the K Club next week. His effort was all the more creditable for being compiled alongside Seve Ballesteros, who in his first competitive round for eight weeks took a 12 at the 18th, where he was in the water behind the green four times, in a 18-over-par 89.

After returning to his hotel room Ballesteros realised he had incorrectly signed for 10 and phoned chief referee John Paramore to disqualify himself. "I am very upset. I didn't want the tournament to end this way," Seve told Paramore.

If that was not enough to turn anyone towards the sponsor's product, the Cork version of the black stuff, Westwood had to deny a preposterous rumour that he was an alcoholic. "I had not heard that one. I am quite impressed if people think I can managed more than five pints a night."

Westwood added: "I feel I have coped quite well. I haven't killed anyone. My wife says I am no different to when I was playing well, but on the course it is difficult to stay positive when you don't know where the ball is going.

"The way I have played recently I didn't deserve to be competing in the US Open. That course at Bethpage tested everything. But I went to Portugal and did some hard work and began to hit the ball better."