Lee Westwood matches best finish, second

Lee Westwood began to feel the pressure of putting on slick greens Sunday at the Masters Tournament, but he did what was needed to match the best finish of his career.

The 42-year-old shot 3-under-par 69 in the final round to finish tied for second at 2-under. He was also runner-up in 2010, though this time he came from behind to finish three strokes back of Danny Willett.

It marked Westwood’s third top-five finish and sixth top-10 at Augusta National Golf Club.

Playing with fellow Englishman Willett, who stormed his way to the green jacket with 67, Westwood hung in with an eagle and four birdies. Bogeys on Nos. 1, 10 and 16 separated him from Willett’s 5-under.

“It was a bit scrappy,” Westwood said. “I got away with a few shots. You come out and contend in the first major of the year, obviously, I must be doing something right.”

Westwood’s highlight was a holed chip from off the back of the green on No. 15 for his only eagle of the week. It got him within a stroke of Willett at 3-under and garnered a fist pump.

The momentum ended there, however, as Westwood three-putted No. 16 for bogey while Willett birdied, creating a three-shot gap he couldn’t overcome.

“I’ve been feeling edgy on the greens for a couple of years now,” he said. “You get under pressure in Augusta, you’re going to start feeling a little bit nervous, which I did. But I still made some nice putts coming in.”

Westwood led two rounds of the 2010 Masters and entered the final round in the last pairing before shooting 71 and finishing three shots back of Phil Mickelson. His 69 Sunday was his first round under 70 at the Masters since 2012.