US Senior Open: Westwood cards 66 in senior debut; Bland shoots 68

Lee Westwood made his senior debut in impressive fashion Thursday with an eagle on his first hole en route to a 4-under 66 in the first round of the U.S. Senior Open.

The Majesticks GC co-captain was tied for third among the early finishers at Newport Country Club.

The other LIV Golf player in the field, Cleeks GC’s Richard Bland, shot a 68 in his first round since winning the Senior PGA Championship in his senior debut last month. He was also in the top 10 when he finished.

The 51-year-old Westwood, using 3-wood from 268 yards on his second shot at the 568-yard par-5 first hole, saw his ball roll to 10 feet to set up his eagle putt.

“A nice way to start,” he said.

Westwood added birdies at the par-3 fourth and par-4 seventh before suffering his first bogey at the eight. He then posted two more birdies against another bogey on his back nine.

Overall, he hit 11 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens in regulation.

“I didn't really miss many greens,” Westwood said. “And my short game is pretty sharp. When I did miss the green, it was pretty straightforward shot.”

Westwood is coming off his best LIV Golf finish, a tie for third in Nashville. He said an increased playing schedule, along with recent practice sessions with coach Pete Cowen, have sharpened his game.

“I'm going through a power phase just to help me hit the ball a bit further and that worked last week,” he said. “Driving distance was 15 yards up. And [there were a] few keys with Pete. Just working on the odd movement to get me synchronized a bit better and coiling up better on the backswing. When I do that, I tend it to play well.”

Bland played bogey-free golf through his first 14 holes, making consecutive birdies at the par-4 seventh and eighth holes. He bounced back from his lone bogey with a birdie at the par-5 16th.

In winning the Senior PGA, Bland shot 17 under with rounds of 64-66-74-63.

Photo Credit: USGA/Kathryn Riley