US OPEN RELATED STORIES US Open Home Page US Open Preview Round 1: Unknowns steal the first day spotlight Round 1: Lee Westwood off to excellent start Round 1: Allenby vents frustration with greens Round 1: Tiger Woods in good shape after a 72 Round 2: Appleby leads as Tiger jumps up Round 2: Overnight leaders crash back to Earth Round 2: Players will be watching Tiger Round 2: Harrington back in contention with a 67 Round 3: Stunning finish lifts Woods in to lead Round 3: Westwood not worried about Tiger factor Round 3: Rocco Mediate still in contention Round 3: A nine ruins Phil Mickelson's chances Round 4: Tiger Woods sets up US Open playoff Round 4: Lee Westwood just misses out on playoff Round 4: Big chance looms for Rocco Mediate Round 4: Sunday bonus for some players Playoff: Tiger wins at 19th playoff hole Playoff: Legend of Tiger Woods grows Playoff: Torrey Pines 18th pivotal in Tiger's win Playoff: So close for Rocco Mediate Course Guide: Torrey Pines US Open Scores US Open Latest Odds and Betting 2008 PGA Tour Schedule US Open Roll of Honour 1895-2007 US Open Scoring and other Records Woods - Mickelson - Scott pairing the main attraction Excitement as US Open prepares to start Trevor Immelman hoping to improve US Open luck Length of Torrey Pines only a small factor Tiger Woods reveals knee not fully healed yet Phil Mickelson targets dream victory Sergio Garcia ready for Major breakthrough Angel Cabrera set for US Open title defence Tiger Woods knee fine after US Open practice USGA favouring public courses for US Open Bob Tway to caddie for son at US Open Tiger Woods plays practice round at Torrey Pines Darren Clarke out to prove US Open strategy Davis Love III & Rich Beem qualify for US Open Torrey Pines vandalised ahead of US Open Fourteen gain entry to US Open at Torrey Pines GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Sweden win World Cup Internationals claim Lexus Cup Pampling wins in a playoff Choi wins Skins Game Amateur: EGU allow range finders GREAT GIFTS FOR GOLFERS Huge savings on Festive gifts! A golf break in France - just £89! Half Price Golf Vouchers Take 10 shots off your scores! Best Value Golf Insurance

Lee Westwood off to excellent start

Lee Westwood was effusive in his praise of the South Course at Torrey Pines after moving into contention with a one-under-par 70 in the U.S. Open first round on Thursday.

Striking the ball with precision on the coastal layout, the 35-year-old Englishman reeled off two birdies and a lone bogey to lie two strokes behind pacesetting American Justin Hicks.

“I think this is one of the best U.S. Open courses we’ve ever played, it is certainly set up the best,” Westwood told reporters. “It is not in such a shape that you feel like there is a disaster waiting around the corner.

“I think if they got the greens a little firmer, that would be how the USGA (United States Golf Association) would exactly want the golf course to play all week. They were a little soft this morning for them.”

Although the 7,643-yard South Course is the longest layout to host a major championship, Westwood felt it presented a very fair challenge to the players.

“Even if you just miss the fairways, it gives you a chance to score and when I did miss them today, it was only just,” the former European number one said after hitting nine of 14 fairways.

“All in all I was very pleased with today’s work. I kept the ball more or less where I wanted to.

“I always feel like I should have a chance at the U.S. Open because I drive the ball well generally,” added Westwood, who is making his ninth appearance in the second major of the year.

“This course in particular has grown on me since the week has gone on. It is a good shaper’s course where you have to draw and fade the ball in equal measure.

“There is definitely a way to play here and hopefully I might just have found that way. Hopefully I can keep that going for the next three days and have a chance on Sunday afternoon.”

Westwood, whose only PGA Tour victory came at the 1998 New Orleans Classic, has posted two top-10 finishes in his previous eight U.S. Open appearances. His best result was a tie for fifth at Pebble Beach in 2000.