Westwood aims to draw on Torrey experience

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - Memories of last year's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines were sharply etched in Lee Westwood's mind on Saturday as he set his sights on a maiden major victory at the British Open.

Thirteen months ago, the Briton fell agonizingly one stroke short of a three-way playoff for the U.S. Open, won the following day by Tiger Woods against fellow American Rocco Mediate.

"The more experiences you have, the more equipped you become to handle most situations and deal with most things that come at you," Westwood told reporters after ending the third round at Turnberry two shots off the lead.

"Having been in contention at the U.S. Open last year, and (having) played that last round with Tiger, I learned a lot. I can carry that on through to tomorrow and try my usual stuff that I've learned from my experiences."

Westwood, an 18-times winner on the European Tour, had to settle for third place at Torrey Pines after missing a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole.

At a blustery Turnberry on Saturday, the Englishman stayed in the title hunt, mixing two birdies with two bogeys for a level-par 70.

That left him in a tie for fourth at two-under 208, level with double U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa and two strokes adrift of 59-year-old American Tom Watson, the shock leader.

SUNDAY STRATEGY

"I'm just going to go out there and continue to play like I have the first three days, plot my way around and try not to make too many mistakes," Westwood said of his strategy for Sunday's final round.

"I generally look at leaderboards from the word go anyway, but I don't think this is a particular golf course you can attack too much.

"I think fairways and greens are probably the order of the day and hopefully I'll roll a few 25, 30-footers in."

Westwood, seeking to become the first home winner of a British Open since Paul Lawrie at Carnoustie in 1999, again looked forward to the support of the Turnberry crowds.

"I always get a pretty good reception at most tournaments, but especially the Open championship," the 36-year-old said.

"I don't think there's a much better walk in golf, certainly for a British golfer, than the walk on to the 18th green in an Open championship. It's an unbelievable reception."

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)