21 Things You Didn’t Know About Lee Westwood

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last updated 4 May 2022

How well do you know the European Tour legend?

21 Things You Didn't Know About Lee Westwood

One of the best golfers England has ever produced, Lee Westwood has had 25 wins on the European Tour, played on multiple Ryder Cups and got to world number one.

Get to know the Englishman a little better with these 21 facts...

21 Things You Didn't Know About Lee Westwood

1 Westwood's best Ryder Cup was in 2004 at Oakland Hills Country Club where he produced 4.5 points out of 5.

2 His middle name is John

3 Became world number one in October 2010 knocking Tiger Woods off the top. He held the top position for a total of 22 weeks and was first English golfer to do so since Faldo.

4 He is the European player that has played in the most Ryder Cup winning teams ever, with 7.

5 He has secured 23 points across ten Ryder Cups.

6 On the European Tour, he won his first two playoffs in tournaments in 1996 and 1998. He then lost his next 5, one a year from 2007 to 2011.

7 Westwood has an OBE which was awarded in the 2011 Birthday honours list.

Related: Who Is Lee Westwood's Caddie? (opens in new tab)

Westwood knocked Tiger off the top spot in the world rankings in 2010 (Getty Images)

8 Westwood is a big fan of Nottingham Forest and also sponsors his semi-pro team Worksop Town FC.

9 Westwood was married to Laurae Coltart, the sister of Scottish Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart. They divorced in 2015.

10 They have two children together, Sam and Poppy.

11 He received an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from Nottingham Trent University.

12 Westwood started playing golf when he was 13 and turned pro when he was 20.

13 His father John, a maths teacher, also took up the game to give his son encouragement.

14 His best finish in a Major is as a runner-up. He achieved this twice at The Masters in 2010 and 2016. He also did so at the 2010 Open Championship.

15 Westwood got married in 2021 to Helen Storey, who also currently caddies for him out on Tour.

16 He is attached to Close House Golf Club near Newcastle where he hosted the British Masters in 2017.

17 He turned pro in 1993 off a handicap of plus four.

18 Cites his interests as films, snooker and cars.

19 He has been a Ping staff player for his entire career.

20 He played rugby, cricket and football as a child.

21 His son, Sam Westwood, has caddied for him a number of times, including at the 2o21 Honda Classic and the 2021 Masters

A golfer for most of his life, Sam is a Senior Staff Writer for Golf Monthly.

Working with golf gear and equipment over the last five years, Sam has quickly built outstanding knowledge and expertise on golf products ranging from drivers, to balls, to shoes.

He also loves to test golf apparel especially if it a piece that can be used just about anywhere!

As a result he has always been the one family and friends come to for buying advice and tips.

He is a graduate of Swansea University where he studied History and American Studies, and he has been a part of the Golf Monthly team since December 2017. He also previously worked for World Soccer and Rugby World magazines.

Sam now spends most of his time testing and looking after golf gear content for the website. He also oversees all Tour player content as well.

Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a handicap of five.