Average is all that Westwood requires – Cowen

“Even when he’s putting average, I cannot see anyone getting close to him,” said the renowned Yorkshire coach on the eve of the US PGA, Westwood’s final chance this year to break his major duck.

The only problem is, Westwood rarely putts as well as average.

The best ball-striker in the game, the Worksop professional led the tee-to-green stats at the Open last month but holed nothing and missed the cut.

His putting has been his Achilles heel for the last two years. Imagine how long he would have stayed at No 1 had he been able to putt half as well as he drives the ball?

Buoyed by his Cowen and ISM stable-mate Darren Clarke winning the Open, Westwood abandoned his hitherto aversion to sports psychologists and spent a session with noted mind guru Dr Bob Rotella.

He also reported last week after an improved showing on the greens at Firestone Country Club that he had spent time with revered putting coach Dave Stockton.

The initial results were encouraging, but at a US PGA the trust in a putting stroke needs to be absolute and his hard-to-please swing coach Cowen believes there is still much work to be done.

“His putting was better, but still not there yet,” said the 60-year-old who is known for not giving praise lightly.

“He had a very productive meeting with Bob Rotella in New York – not so much with Dave Stockton on his putting.

“He’s still looking for improvement.”

Despite the short stick still undermining his consistency with the long clubs, Cowen feels Westwood’s accuracy and length will stand him in good stead over the 7,467-yard, par-70 Atlanta Athletic Club course.

Cowen said: “The thing with Lee is he’s hitting the ball so well nowadays, to the extent that even if he’s only putting average he’ll do really well.

“He bombs it so far now, he’s getting closer and closer to the green and giving himself more chances to find birdies.

“He just needs that little bit of luck, but once the door opens he’ll storm through it.”

Westwood cut a relaxed figure yesterday as he faced the media and the inevitable question about whether being the game’s current best player never to win a major was a tag that bothered him.

“It’s good to be the best at something I suppose,” was his quick-witted response.

“I suppose it’s a compliment in a way. At least I’m good at something.”

He also revealed he has shed nine pounds by upping his training and was setting personal bests on the bench press.

On his appointment with Rotella, Westwood said it will make him more light-hearted on the golf course.

“You’ll see me not trying,” he said. “When you get into those positions, just enjoy it and have a free, clear mind – and play like it doesn’t really mean anything.

“It’s four rounds of golf, no different to the Indonesian Masters. I’ve done all the hard work now, done it for 20 years – it’s time to just relax and let it flow.”

He also dismissed talk of a switch to the broomhandle putter, that was used to such great affect by WGC-Bridgestone Invitational winner Adam Scott.

“I’ve fiddled around with one on the putting green and I felt uncomfortable with it, so I wouldn’t take it to the golf course if I felt uncomfortable on the putting green,” said the 38-year-old.

Should Westwood finally deliver on his long-held promise it would cap a remarkable period for Rotherham-based Cowen. Last year, after more than a decade coaching Tour professionals, he finally saw a pupil of his win a major when Graeme McDowell won the US Open.

A month later he was celebrating again as Louis Oosthuizen surprised the field at St Andrews. Clarke’s win at Sandwich last month was built on by victory at the Irish Open for Malton’s Simon Dyson.

Cowen said: “We had two major winners last year and it was fantastic to win the Open with Darren, but I want two majors this year.

“Darren’s win was fantastic, and even last week after shooting that 77 at Akron, Simon found his way back with three rounds in the 60s.”

Cowen has been linked with Padraig Harrington following the Irishman’s split with his long-time coach Bob Torrance.

The pair were spotted working together on the range at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and although Cowen is looking to wind down his client list and referred to the newspaper talk as ‘fictional’, Harrington only fanned the flames with his post-tournament comments.

The 2008 US PGA champion said: “I did speak with Pete Cowen and I am going to continue down the road with him.

“I like what I heard but I’m not going to spend the next three days beating golf balls going into a major.”