How Lee Westwood’s girlfriend Helen Storey revitalized his profession

Taking a two-shot lead into Sunday’s ultimate spherical of the Gamers Championship at TPC Sawgrass, Lee Westwood is enjoying among the finest golf of his profession.

Should you requested the 47-year-old how he’s managed to remain constant these previous few years, he’d doubtless level to his caddie Helen Storey, who additionally occurs to be his girlfriend.

Since 2018, when Storey started caddying for Westwood, their relationship has at all times stolen the present at matches. Having your girlfriend as your caddie is actually unconventional, however Westwood has credited Storey for at all times holding him grounded.

“At my stage of my profession, there’s not quite a bit a caddie can inform me, however clearly Helen will get me in a improbable temper on the market, and psychologically she may help me and say the issues that I would like to listen to,” Westwood mentioned Saturday. “She helps me in that facet an immeasurable quantity.”

Westwood and Storey, 43, started courting after the English golf professional and his ex-wife of 16 years, Laurae Coltart, separated in 2015. The 2 have been launched by Graham Wylie, an excellent buddy of Westwood’s who can be married to Storey’s sister Andrea.

Coltart, with whom Westwood has two kids, alleged that Lee had an affair – which he denied. And the pair legally finalized their divorce in 2017. Storey was additionally married as soon as earlier than assembly Westwood and has a daughter.

Their chemistry is evidently plain. Even Bryson DeChambeau, who is 2 photographs behind Westwood heading into Sunday, can see what Storey does for Westwood out on the inexperienced.

“She’s holding him regular and grounded and he or she’s a rock,” DeChambeau mentioned. “[She] retains his thoughts centered on the fitting issues and he or she’s been superior for him. That’s one in every of his secret weapons, I feel.”

Storey has been Westwood’s caddie since he made it to the 2018 Denmark match. Earlier than Storey, Billy Foster was Westwood’s caddie earlier than their relationship got here to an finish on account of disagreements.

Westwood recalled to Golfweek the primary time Storey accompanied him at an expert match. When Westwood lower a giant piece of turf on one in every of his first swings, Storey didn’t hesitate to choose up the slab of grass to fill the divot mark as caddies usually do.

“She’s strolling again with the divot like this,” Westwood mentioned, holding his palm out and away from his physique to reveal, per Golfweek.

When Westwood requested Storey what was incorrect, she replied, “I hope there’s not a worm on this.”

Shortly after, Westwood earned his first European Tour win since 2014 on the Nedbank Problem with Storey as his caddie. She has been with him ever since.

“Clearly I hit it off with Helen,” Westwood mentioned in 2019, per Golfweek. “She doesn’t know an excessive amount of about golf however she is aware of quite a bit about the way in which my thoughts works. So she retains me in an excellent state of mind and specializing in the fitting issues on the proper time.

“There’s extra to caddying than carrying and getting the wind path.”

Storey’s Instagram account reveals her to be a health fanatic. She reportedly labored as a health teacher earlier than touchdown her gig as Westwood’s caddie.

Westwood is enjoying in addition to he’s performed in roughly a decade, when he had a collection of top-three finishes at majors. He’s by no means gained a serious, although, and a Gamers Championship victory can be the most important of his profession.