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Westwood preps for US Open with PGA title defence

Lee Westwood, pictured in April 2011, returns to TPC Southwind this week to defend his St. Jude Classic crown and put the finishing touches on his preparations for the US Open golf championship

Lee Westwood returns to TPC Southwind this week to defend his St. Jude Classic crown and put the finishing touches on his preparations for the US Open golf championship. While some players prefer to take the week off before a major, Westwood said he didn't hesitate to put the tournament on his schedule. "This was one of the first ones that went in," the Englishman said. "It's a priority for me to try to come and defend whenever I can, and I like to play the week before a major championship. "I was fairly sure I was going to use this as one of my three invites," added Westwood, whose US tour schedule is limited since he is no longer a member of the American circuit. Westwood believes the 7,239-yard, par-70 Southwind layout is a good warm-up for the US Open, which will be held at Congressional, in suburban Washington. "It certainly demands that you hit the fairways and hit the greens, which is pretty much the blueprint for playing good US Open golf as well," Westwood said. No one has successfully defended a PGA Tour title yet this season. To do so, world number two Westwood will have to overcome a field that includes five more of the world's top 32 -- Sweden's Robert Karlsson, David Toms, South African Retief Goosen, Australian Geoff Ogilvy and Zach Johnson. All will have to cope with hot, humid weather, with both Westwood and Karlsson comparing the Memphis weather to that they've faced in Indonesia and Malaysia. "That's part of playing this event," Karlsson said. "You just have to take it and prepare as well as you can and make sure you stay hydrated and not get too caught up in outside conditions." The field also includes Spain's Sergio Garcia, past champion Brian Gay, Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Brandt Snedeker, who won The Heritage in April. Local favorite John Daly returns as well. Westwood admits that his victory last year owed something to Robert Garrigus, who squandered a three-shot lead on the 72nd hole. Westwood went on to win his second US PGA Tour title in a three-way playoff. "Sometimes you don't win tournaments you think you should have won, and sometimes you win tournaments that some other guy should have won," Westwood said. "If you put yourself in the position often enough, that's going to happen." Westwood went on to take the world number one ranking away from Tiger Woods, although he has now dropped to second behind compatriot Luke Donald after losing a playoff in the European Tour's PGA Championship. Garrigus bounced back from his meltdown here by winning the final event of last season. He'll play the first two rounds with Westwood and Karlsson, and he already has plans for the 18th hole. "I'm not going to screw it up this time," he said.