Westwood banishes ghosts of Valhalla with fine first round at The Belfry

The ghosts of Valhalla didn't stalk Lee Westwood down the fairways of The Belfry on Thursday.

Neither in the form of made-up characters emerging from the crowd or apparitions of celebrating Americans forming in his head.

Back to the day job he called it, as the Englishman effortlessly managed to swap the breathtaking drama of the Ryder Cup for the breathless hush of the Quinn Insurance British Masters.

Westwood plays into the 4th green during the first round of The British Masters at The Belfry

Opening with a 68, the defending champion lies just one stroke behind the joint leaders, Australian Marcus Fraser and Swede Mikael Lundberg. Thank goodness for that, sighedthe organisers.

Bad enough that Darren Clarke should shoot 80 in the morning; still worse that Colin Montgomerie followed his example in the afternoon with a horrific 81. Imagine if the third big name here had still been playing the Ryder Cup in his mind?

There might not have been any chants to greet Westwood on the first tee but the sponsors must have felt like singing his praises.

As for poor Monty, he talks of being a player at the next Ryder Cup while continuing to give every impression he would be a far better captain.

Speaking of which, speculation on whom will take over from Nick Faldo continues to rumble, although the position hasn't changed since this newspaper broke the story last April.

For all the talk of Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam and others throwing their hats into the ring, the job remains Jose Maria Olazabal's to turn down.

Lee Westwood on the 3td tee with Colin Montgomerie

Tournament Players' committee chairman Thomas Bjorn said yesterday that the announcement may be postponed from next January to May and it doesn't need a genius towork out why.

Olazabal has struggled with his health all summer but some recent improvement has given him hope that he still might make it as a player in 2010.

The bottom line is he needs time to know one way or the other and by May he will have a better idea which way to commit himself.

Bjorn knew what was coming when he came into the press tent. 'Trust me to choose this day to shoot 69,' said the droll Dane.

After some polite questions about his own health - Bjorn hasn't played for 10 weeks owing to a shoulder ligament problem - it was down to business about the Ryder Cup captaincy.

Bjorn was diplomacy itself as you would expect from someone in his position but, like many of the best candidates to be captain, ruled himself out on the grounds of age.

'We're going to need to convince someone,' said the 37-year-old with a smile. Over to you, Ollie.

Westwood's excellent round helped the tournament break out of the shadows of the continued debate over what happened at Valhalla.

The American press are busy trying to make out that Faldo's perceived mismanagement was a British media invention.

But there is no mistaking the anger in hotel corridors here at Faldo's antics, summed up by one influential player - and no, his name is not Monty - who said: 'There were probably six captains of the future in that team and they all had an object lesson in how not to do the job.'