Westwood among the leaders

Lee Westwood put himself into contention at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Friday and credited his strong US Open finish at Torrey Pines for helping him get there.

Lee Westwood Lee Westwood

Westwood shot a five-under-par second-round 65 at the Firestone Country Club to lie two shots behind halfway leader Vijay Singh, with Phil Mickelson separating them at six under.

"I've taken a lot of confidence from that," said Westwood, who was third at Torrey Pines. "It's not going to get any more pressurised or there's not going to be more going on than playing in the last round of the US Open with Tiger, everything that was going on with his knee and trying to win the tournament as well."

He added: "I tried to carry on that confidence that I built up there into this event. Obviously this is a golf course I've played well on in the past.

"I've shot 63 around here and I think I hold the lowest score for the back nine. It's just a golf course that I stand on and a lot of shots suit my eye.

"I know there's a lot of crosswinds out there, but they don't seem to worry me too much, either. In some ways I always look forward to coming and playing. Obviously with no cut, as well, this week you can really go out there and take the reins off and play freely."

Singh, in the last group of the day to tee off on the 10th hole, stormed into the lead with a second-round four-under-par 66 that contained five birdies and a bogey.

Joining Westwood in the clubhouse on five under, one shot back on Mickelson, were Zach Johnson, Sean O'Hair and Peter Lonard of Australia with his compatriot Stuart Appleby at four under for the tournament following a 66, alongside Miguel Angel Jiminez of Spain, Americans DJ Trahan and Stewart Cink and South Africa's Rory Sabbatini.

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