Lee Westwood leads veteran surge at LIV Golf NYC

An old French proverb suggests that 50 is the youth of old age.

At this week’s LIV Golf NYC, some of the circuit’s eldest members are taking that message to heart.

Although 27-year-old Joaquin Niemann leads the event at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster at 13 under through the opening two rounds, plenty of others who are a little long in the tooth are near the top of the board as the weekend approaches.

Advertisement

For example, 53-year-old Lee Westwood fired a 65 on Friday, and he sits alone in second place, five shots off the pace being set by Niemann. He’s trailed by 46-year-old Sergio Garcia and not far behind is 53-year-old Richard Bland, who sits at 5 under.

More: LIV Golf claims it has a lifeline, but mere cash won’t be enough to survive | Opinion

Westwood wasn’t sure what made the course manageable for the older players.

“I don’t know what the reason for that is. I guess with the advancements in technology over the years, the older guys are still getting it out there,” Westwood said. “We’re by no means the three longest players, but I would say all of us carry it somewhere between — somewhere around 290 yards. If you can hit it 290 yards in the middle of most fairways, I’ve always said that I’ll take that.

Advertisement

“I’m never going to be one that is like a 340 bomber, but put me 290, 295 down the middle of most fairways, and I feel like I’ve got a chance around a golf course.”

Westwood hasn’t cracked the top 30 in the last half-dozen LIV Golf events. But on Friday, he had just one mishap, a bogey on the par-4 5th hole, to go with seven birdies.

Although he struck the ball well, the big key for Westwood has been his putter, which leads the field through 36 holes. He credits a new putting studio in his home for helping to improve his stroke.

And although he has a pair of PGA Tour wins to go with 25 victories on the European Tour, Westwood is still looking to get his first win on the LIV Golf loop.

Advertisement

“It’s something I’d like to do, obviously. But it won’t define my career on LIV, really, regardless of what happens in the future,” he said. “I’m kind of at the age now where I just tee it up and try and have a fun, enjoyable week, and if I play well, I play well, right? That’s the way everybody should play the game.”

LIV Golf NYC leaderboard (through 36 holes)

Of course, this has been an interesting week for LIV Golf members as an announcement from CEO Scott O’Neil came on Wednesday that an investor is willing to step in and help support the league. That comes just over three months after the Saudi Public Investment Fund decided to end its financial support of LIV Golf, leaving executives scrambling to find new fundin to keep the league afloat. The new-look LIV will feature just 10 events, instead of 14, with five taking place in the U.S. and five around the globe.

The league has two tournaments remaining on its 2026 schedule after this week: LIV Golf Indianapolis at The Club at Chatham Hills (Aug. 20-23) and the season-ending LIV Golf Team Championship at The Cardinal at Saint John’s in Michigan (Aug. 27-30). Rumors have been swirling about the potential cancellation of the Michigan event, which O’Neil briefly addressed in his news conference, saying there has been no final decision made yet.

Advertisement

“You prepare hard and try and prepare thoroughly for each tournament and then you just kind of roll the dice. If they turn up the way you want them to, you have a chance,” Westwood said. “Some weeks you play great and you don’t find yourself in contention. Some weeks you feel like you play poorly, almost slightly beware the injured golfer kind of thing. I’ve been on the range and hit the ball terrible and then gone out and shot 64. Expectations in golf are a terrible thing. You’ve just got to load the dice in your favor.”

Tim Schmitt is the managing editor of Golfweek.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Lee Westwood leads veteran surge at LIV Golf NYC