Charging Westwood draws on Torrey Pines memories in Ohio

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - Back on American soil for the first time since finishing third at the U.S. Open in June, Britain's Lee Westwood charged into contention at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Friday.

The former European number one shot a sparkling five-under-par 65 in sun-drenched conditions in the second round for a five-under total of 135.

He is a stroke behind pacesetting American Phil Mickelson at Firestone Country Club in the third and final World Golf Championship (WGC) event of the year.

An unabashed fan of the par-70 layout at Firestone, Westwood said he had gained a considerable boost in self-belief after posting his best major finish at Torrey Pines two months ago.

"I've taken a lot of confidence from that," the 35-year-old Englishman told reporters after piling up six birdies and one bogey.

"It's not going to get any more pressurized than playing in the last round of the U.S. Open with Tiger, given everything that was going on with his knee and trying to win the tournament, as well.

"I have tried to carry on the confidence that I built up there into this event."

Westwood fell agonizingly one stroke short of a playoff for the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, where Tiger Woods beat fellow American Rocco Mediate at the 19th hole before ending his season to have knee surgery.

NOTABLE ABSENTEE

Although world number one Woods is a notable absentee at Firestone this week as a six-times winner of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Westwood was not at all concerned.

"Whether Tiger plays or not has no bearing on how I feel in any particular week," the 18-times European Tour winner said.

"Obviously we all know he's got a fabulous record here but there's not much point in talking about a player that's not playing."

Four strokes off the pace at the start of the day, Westwood birdied his first two holes to set the tone for his second-round charge.

"The first holes were nice and painless," the former world number four said. "I hit a driver and wedge to about 12 inches at the 10th, which was my first hole, and then driver, wedge to about eight inches on 11.

"It doesn't get much easier than that to start a round. My overall game tee to green was very good. You have to hit it well around here to give yourself scoring opportunities, and once I did that, I took advantage of them.