sport golf mastersaugusta 8420658 ----- # Lee Westwood birdies set pulses racing in Houston ahead of 2011 Augusta Masters ## If Houston is all about pointers for The Masters next week, what about a hat-trick of birdies around holes 11, 12 and 13 for an omen? ![Lee Westwood birdies set pulses racing in Houston ahead of 2011 Augusta Masters][1] Finding his form: Lee Westwood is striking the ball well going into The Masters Photo: GETTY IMAGES [![Kevin Garside][2]][3] By [Kevin Garside][4] 7:16AM BST 01 Apr 2011 [Follow Kevin Garside on Twitter][5] [Comments][6] That sequence of holes at Augusta, known as Amen Corner, is arguably the most sacred stretch in golf. Lee Westwood pulled that three-card trick at the Shell Houston Open to set pulses racing by association and ease concerns about his putting ahead of the opening major of the season. A top-two finish in Texas would take Westwood into The Masters as world No 1. But he is not thinking about bragging rights with Magnolia Drive his next destination. After a fortnight practicing at home in Worksop, followed by a couple of practice rounds at Augusta, Westwood's game appears to be peaking as showtime beckons. He closed with another birdie at the last to finish three off the lead, held by Nick O'Hern, for whom victory would seal his passage to Augusta. ## Related Articles * [Augusta's annual assault][7] 31 Mar 2011 * [Westwood: first major top priority][8] 30 Mar 2011 * [BBC cut Torrance from commentary team][9] 29 Mar 2011 * [Fowler hits ominous form as Woods wobbles][10] 24 Mar 2011 * [Donald winds down for Masters][11] 14 Mar 2011 Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington and Francesco Molinari both opened with birdies. Harrington is slowly putting his A game together after a lean period, following his burst of three majors in 13 months. Harrington was tied for 10th alongside Westwood playing the last. The London-based Molinari might be properly regarded as a Masters sleeper. His assiduous work with coach Denis Pugh at The Wisley in Surrey has brought him to the level of consistency required to contend in the majors. Once his putter catches up with the rest of his game, Molinari will be a threat anywhere. He was two under with one to play. Freddie Couples, who led after the first round at Augusta last year, is showing encouraging signs ahead of his return to the site of his only major victory. Playing his sixth event of the year, Couples was round the Redstone course at Humble in 71. On route to becoming the Tour Champions rookie of the year in 2010, Couples smashed Hale Irwin's scoring average, putting average and birdie count record that had stood for 12 years. And, if co-incidence means anything, he won his last PGA tournament in Houston eight years ago. Peter Lawrie takes a two-shot lead into the second round at the Hassan Trophy in Morocco, played over two courses in Agadir. The Irishman posted an eight- under 64 at the Golf Du Palais Royal. England's John Bickerton, playing at Gold de L'Ocean course, closed tied in second with Rhys Davies of Wales and India's Shiv Kapur. Japan's teenage totem Ryo Ishikawa has pledged all his winnings in 2011 to the relief fund for the victims of the earthquake that struck last month, costing 27,000 lives. There will also be a 100,000 yen (£1,207) bonus for every birdie struck. Since he recorded 341 on the JGTO Tour last year the Ishikawa pot is expected to exceed £1 million. "While golf is my profession there are things that are more important. And the people of Japan are dealing with life and death issues as a result of the earthquake and tsunami. "I've set my goal at 200 million yen (£1.6m) in total. I know recovery in the quake-affected areas will take a long time. I'm motivated to not only raise money for the people of Japan, but hopefully also encourage them as the country recovers." 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