Westwood fights rumours and for form

Claims Lee Westwood has become an alcoholic is top of the wild untruths confronting the Englishman as he fights to regain his Order of Merit winning form.

Westwood is returning to competition at Fota Island today after a trapped nerve in his shoulder forced him out of the recent English Open. Westwood is in Ireland looking for the emerald success that earned him victory in the 1999 and 2000 Smurfit European Open and a Murphy's Irish Open best of second in 1997 at Druids Glen.

But much has been written and spoken as Westwood chases a first victory in two years since winning seven events around the globe in 2000.

Strangest, says manager, Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler, was a rumour at the US Open that alcohol is the root of Westwood's demise.

"We heard the rumour at the US Open that Lee was an alcoholic which was incredible and totally amazing," said Chandler.

"Lee is working very hard to regain that winning form and probably working harder now than when he was successful and to say he's not working hard is unfair. The missing ingredient is confidence."

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