Lee flew to the States from Manchester airport on Monday morning. He has had a busy "break", a short holiday in Cannes; visiting some of the Lee Westwood Golf Academies and officially unveiling the revamped Kilton Forest Golf Club, in his home town of Worksop.
Currently 3rd in World Rankings, less than 1 point seperates the top three players, Phil Mickelson (0.2) and Tiger Woods (0.7), and a win at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational this week, could see Lee in top spot.
On Thursday, Lee has a 1.50 start on the South Course with Tiger Woods at Firestone Country Club in Akron Ohio. Lee finished in 9th place here last year, but his best finish to date was 2nd in 2008.
Lee didn't do much wrong but only managed a 1-over 71, ending the day in T37th position. Leader, Bubba Watson is on 6-under par.
"I birdied one after two holes but then hit a couple really poor shots. I didn't get to do much practicing after the Open Championship. I've not done a lot in the two weeks due to my leg and ankle. It wasn't too much of a surprise not to get it going around here. If you don't play well around this golf course, you get what you deserve".
"I was a little bit rusty today and hopefully I'm just going to shake it off as the week goes along and hopefully improve. 71 is by no means out of it. Tomorrow is the morning round, so there will be better conditions tomorrow, greens will be smooth, and just got to take advantage of that".
"Today I made probably three bogeys I shouldn't have made and I'm looking at 68 if I make pars there. All in all, not too disappointed. I didn't really expect to get too much out of today. Like I said, I haven't put enough work in".
Still getting trouble from his recent injury, he said "I'm kind of struggling along with it a little bit. But it's all right at the start of the day and it gets worse as the day goes on, and unfortunately when I'm not playing tournaments I'm not able to put the hard work in, and golf is a game where you only get out what you put in. It's a difficult golf course if you're not on your game".
Lee had a 9.50 start from the 10th on Friday, but following the second round of the WGC Bridgestone, Lee was forced to pull out of the event, following a 76, when he struggled with a taped up ankle. He has also pulled out of the USPGA next week.
"I will be out for as long as it takes to get better," he said. "I am just hoping that it will be in time for me to play in the Ryder Cup."
All he could do to relieve the discomfort was to: "Sit on my backside for six weeks, like they keep telling me. It's the only way to improve it."
Lee took the advice of his management team, ISM, and returned home immediately to begin his recuperation work. "It just seems to be getting worse – there's no strength in it," he said. "I don't have confidence in it, and then on the way down I'm finding it hard to hold my weight on it and then push off."
"I'd like to be working out and I can't put any weight on it in the gym, so my legs feel weak. That's just it."
