Lee Westwood, Bryson DeChambeau set for rematch at the Players

Lee Westwood and Bryson DeChambeau will play together on Sunday for the second straight week as they chase the Players Championship title

There are few things Lee Westwood and Bryson DeChambeau have in common. Westwood is a soon-to-be 48-year-old Englishman who plots his way around a golf course with guile honed by decades of experience. DeChambeau is 20 years younger and is the game’s longest hitter. DeChambeau won the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week, his eighth career PGA Tour title; Westwood, despite being a former World No. 1, hasn’t won in 11 years and has just two career victories in the United States.

They belong to different generations and come from different continents. DeChambeau was born the same year Westwood turned pro in 1993; he was just four when Westwood first won on the PGA Tour. Their style of play is completely dissimilar. DeChambeau ranks first on tour in strokes gained: off the tee and driving distance this season; Westwood is 128th and 105th, respectively, in those categories.

But, last week at Bay Hill, their paths crossed as DeChambeau beat Westwood by one shot. And they will again on Sunday when they are paired together in the final group at the Players Championship. Westwood shot a bogey-free round of 68 in Saturday’s third round to take the 54-hole lead at 13-under. DeChambeau is two shots back in second place. They’ll become the first players in the ShotLink era (since 2003) to play together in the final group on Sunday in consecutive weeks.

Westwood and DeChambeau may be different in so many ways, but they each respect what the other is doing. Westwood had a prime look as DeChambeau electrified the gallery at Bay Hill last week by nearly driving the green on a par-five. Not able to use that same style to overpower TPC Sawgrass, DeChambeau instead has had to rein it in a bit this week, relying instead on a soft touch around the green and superb putting. He didn’t miss a putt inside 20 feet in the third round and holed a 15-footer for par on the difficult 18th hole to solidify his spot in the final pairing. He’s mastered two diametrically opposed styles of play.

“This place is a little bit more strategic,” Westwood said following his round, comparing Bay Hill to TPC Sawgrass. “But credit to Bryson. You wouldn’t associate this golf course with his style of play, and he’s up there. It shows he can adapt his game.”

Westwood, meanwhile, is enjoying a career resurgence just a month away from his 48th birthday. His caddie, girlfriend Helen Storey, has helped him adopt a new mindset on the golf course. Instead of focusing on the outcomes, he just trusts his process and makes sure he has fun. The results will come by themselves.

Westwood leads the field this week in greens in regulation. He also lead in that category last week. His ball-striking is as solid as it’s ever been, 23 years after he first played the Players Championship. He showed on Saturday he can also make a key putt when he needs to, as well. On the infamous “Island Green” 17th, his tee shot hung up on a ridge, leaving him a 25-foot, downhill putt for birdie. He rolled it in and celebrated with the crowd surrounding the green, just as DeChambeau did last week.

“Yeah, Mr. Consistensy. I mean, his driving is impeccable, his iron play is impeccable and he makes putts when he needs to,” DeChambeau said. “Fortunately for me last week I was able to get the job done, and I think tomorrow is going to be an incredible battle.”

Says Westwood about the Sunday rematch: “I enjoyed last Sunday, and I’m going to enjoy this Sunday.”

So will the rest of the golf world, as two players so different in so many ways share the stage together once again.