Irons cost Westwood

European number one Lee Westwood quashed suggestions missing the cut at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship today was a reality check following his storming finish last year.

Westwood produced an unstoppable end to 2009 to claim a second Order of Merit title and headed to Abu Dhabi for the start of the desert swing as one of the obvious favourites.

But after being forced to put a new set of irons in his bag to comply with the new rules regarding grooves following a six week Christmas break, Westwood carded a six-over-par second round 78 to miss the cut by five shots with six bogeys spread across his card.

"It's just a bit rust. There were a lot of variables this week. My caddie was pointing out going round, 'What a time to change your clubs when you are playing your best golf'," said Westwood.

"The way I've driven it today, I flushed it off the tee, I just need to do some work with my irons. I don't know if they've put the wrong shafts in, they just don't feel right and they don't feel the same.

"They feel like fishing rods. I don't think it's much to do with the grooves, I just haven't had a chance to go out there and do any testing."

Westwood will get a new set of irons flown out while he will also re-shaft his current set ahead of next week's Commercialbank Qatar Masters.

"Yesterday was just a really good 69, it could have easily been 77 the way I played," he added. "I got away with murder yesterday and today I didn't."