Most golfers dream of making it to The Open just once. Lee Westwood just made it back—at age 52, jet-lagged, and on no sleep.
If you’re not rooting for him already, you’re missing one of golf’s best feel-good stories of the year.
A Wild 36-Hole Dash From Dallas to Dundonald
Westwood’s journey to Royal Portrush didn’t start with a caddie stroll down memory lane. It started with an overnight flight from LIV Golf Dallas, where he’d just finished T25. He touched down in Scotland on Monday at 7:30 PM.
The next morning? Awake at 1:30 AM, battling jet lag and sleep deprivation—but still good enough to shoot rounds of 70 and 67, finish seven-under, and claim medalist honors at Final Qualifying.
That’s grit. And a bit of madness.
He admitted as much:
“I’ve been up since half-past one this morning with jet lag so I was starting to feel it.” Westwood told Sky Sports
If that doesn’t sum up the struggle of being a veteran trying to stay relevant, nothing does.
A Homecoming With History
This isn’t just another major for Westwood. It’s his 28th Open Championship and his 92nd major overall—but the first since 2022. With LIV Golf limiting his ability to earn ranking points, he hadn’t had a clear path back… until now.
And this venue? Royal Portrush is where Lee Westwood last truly contended, finishing T4 in 2019. That remains his most recent top-10 finish in a major. The man has history here—and unfinished business.
Even better, he’s leaning into the challenge with the wisdom only years (and heartache) can give.
Westwood reflected, “I was treating golf too seriously… I needed more perspective and clarity, and to look at golf for what it is again.”
That shift in mindset might be the quiet weapon he’s been missing all along.
Golf Fans React: “Vintage Westy!”
Golf social media lit up when the news broke—fans calling it a “throwback” and praising him for doing it “the old-fashioned way.” As Golf Digest noted, Westwood’s return was one of the most talked-about stories from Final Qualifying.
And while he’s not exactly lighting up LIV this season (he’s ranked 42nd, with just one top-20 finish), his links expertise gives him a real shot to make a splash at Portrush.
If there’s any kind of course where experience can still outfox raw power, it’s links.
“If any form of golf gives seniors a chance, it’s links golf,” Westwood said. “You get a bit of run on the ball and you have to use a bit of cunning and guile with the wind.”
This isn’t just old-man optimism. It’s tactical. Ask Tom Watson—who almost won The Open at 59.
“I’m not getting any younger, I’m 52 now. The Open Championship is the greatest tournament on the golfing calendar.” Lee Westwood via Sky Sports
My Take: It’s More Than Just Sentimental
I’ve got to be honest—I love this story.
Not just because Westwood’s been around forever (though he has), or because he’s one of the good guys who never quite got his major. But because this is what golf’s all about: showing up. Grinding. Believing, even when the world’s moved on.
There’s something beautiful about a guy who’s made peace with the past but still wants to compete. Especially when the course is Portrush, and the stakes are this personal.
Even if he doesn’t make the cut, he’s already delivered one of the most human, relatable golf stories of 2025.
So what’s next for Westy? He’ll tee it up on July 17 at Royal Portrush, likely as one of the oldest players in the field. And who knows—maybe that 90th major start has something special waiting for him.
But even if it doesn’t?
He’s already won something bigger: our respect, again.
