FORMER world number one golfer Lee Westwood has opted for Zimbabwe-born caddie Mike Kerr ahead of his long-time caddie Billy Foster next season as the Briton looks to end his long wait for an elusive major title.
REPORT BY HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER
Kerr was also courted by Spanish golf champion Sergio Garcia.
Westwood’s manager Andrew Chandler made the announcement.
“It was a difficult decision because we all know how good Billy is as a caddie and they’re great mates as well. Lee is at that stage of his career where he has to be a little bit selfish,” Chandler told the Daily Mail newspaper in England yesterday.
He added: “Billy hopes to be fit enough at the start of next year to caddie for one week and then have one week off, but Lee is playing six tournaments in a row starting in Dubai next February.”
Kerr filled in for Foster since August when the latter was recovering from a cruciate knee injury he sustained in May.
The Zimbabwean is the third caddie Westwood, currently ranked fourth in the world, has used since Foster’s injury.
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The move continues a year of upheaval for Westwood, who split with coach Pete Cowen in August after he missed out at the PGA Championships.
Next year’s Masters in April will be Westwood’s 60th attempt at a major win.
Westwood was back as a member of the PGA Tour in the United States this year and has now taken the extra step of moving his family to Florida as he approaches his 40th birthday.
Westwood is one of the few golfers who have won tournaments on every major continent, including victories on the European Tour and the PGA Tour.
The 39-year-old became the world number one golfer in 2010, ending the reign of Tiger Woods, and becoming the first British golfer to hold that position.
He held the number one position for a total of 22 weeks.
