Turkish Airlines Open 2015: Lee Westwood clicks into gear as he bids to arrest his slide

The Briton shot his lowest round for 14 months with a 64 to claim opening day lead

Lee Westwood shot his lowest round for 14 months with a 64 (Getty)

Lee Westwood believes something has “finally clicked” after shooting his lowest score for 14 months, although that was still not enough to claim the lead on the opening day of the Turkish Airlines Open.

Westwood carded eight birdies in a flawless 64, despite suffering from a heavy cold and being only one under for the five par fives at Montgomerie Maxx Royal.

South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl played those five holes in six under during a stunning 61 while England’s Chris Wood took his opportunity to impress his playing partner and Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke with a 66. The Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy is one of seven a shot further back after a 67 which featured a chip in and a left-handed recovery shot.

Westwood has given up his PGA Tour membership as he goes through a divorce, moving back to the UK from Florida to be close to his two children. The 42-year-old won the Indonesian Masters in April but has slipped down the world rankings to 46th, with a place in the top 50 vital to secure entry to majors and World Golf Championship events next season.

“I’ve had an idea of what’s been wrong for a while and I’ve been working hard with Mike Walker [his coach] and also with Kevin Duffy in the gym and I think something has finally clicked,” the former world No 1 said.

“I’m no spring chicken any more. I’ve been training my hips to work in a certain way the last couple of years, but not playing very well and with not a great hip and leg action. I’m trying to train my way out of it now and get it back to where it was.”

McIlroy has a lead of 271,214 points over England’s Danny Willett – who carded a 69 – as he looks to win the Race to Dubai for the third time in four years, but each of the four Final Series events are worth more than 1.3million points to the winner.

The 26-year-old is playing three of the four and has targeted at least one victory to end an injury-affected season in style. After starting from the 10th, McIlroy chipped in for a birdie on the par-five 11th and then made a crucial par save after a poor drive on the 18th, turning his sand wedge around to play a left-handed pitch back on to the fairway from the base of a tree.

McIlroy said: “I was trying to find my rhythm for the first few holes and made a good par save on 18 which gave me some momentum going into the back nine, so overall I’m pretty pleased.”

PA