Patience allows Westwood to stay focused on the big prize

THE cynical among us would call Lee Westwood the best player never to win a major.

The facts on this matter, almost speak for themselves.

Twice Europe's No 1 golfer, he has 32 victories to his name worldwide, has played a significant role in four Ryder Cup wins in six consecutive appearances and he has climbed not once, but twice, into the world's top four golfers.

On current form there is no more consistent player.

His record in majors since the 2008 US Open is five top-three finishes in 10 tournaments, including two second places in the three majors this year alone.

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For the critics, his consistent contention and failure to cross the line is gradually becoming a stick with which to beat the amiable 37-year-old from Worksop with.

But for the man who spent his junior days playing in the twilight at Kilton Forest Golf Club, his record is a source of pride, not frustration, and if the tag of best player never to win a major has been too much of a weight to bear for other players, Westwood carries it with a shrug of his shoulders.

"I feel like it's only a matter of time," he said yesterday, knowing self-confidence is part of the mental hurdle he must overcome to remove any doubt.

"There's only one major left this year but I don't see any reason why if I work hard between the PGA Championship and the Masters next year I can't up my game another level.

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"If you look back at the last few majors, you tell me when any other players finished third, third, second and second in four of the last five majors? I think you're only looking at people like Tiger Woods – so it's a good level of consistency."

Westwood's rise back up the ladder from the depths of despair in his late 20s and early 30s has seen him climb to No 3 in the world, eclipsing the fourth place he achieved in 2000 when he was first crowned Europe's No 1 following a run of 12 victories in three years.

He got close only once at the 1999 Masters, but has now made contention a habit since missing out on a US Open play-off at Torrey Pines two years ago by a single stroke.

History often shows that once that barrier is broken down the floodgates open, as Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington proved.

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And considering his formidable record in closing out a tournament when in a position to win, Westwood is confident that will be the case.

"It could happen like that but I'd still like to win one," he laughed.

"It's been like that with top fives and top threes, the more often I've got into that position the easier it's become, so why should it be any different with the first one I win?

"I've learnt my lesson from the first time I was in this position, I wasn't patient then.

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"I looked for something that wasn't there in the late 90s early 2000s, and once you start looking for things it's easy to create faults, whereas this time around, it's a case of improving every aspect of my game just that little bit.

"It's minute the improvement I've got to make."

As well as practicing on the course, Westwood is a slave to a fitness regime, with a gym in his own home helping him bulk up to match the length of the big hitters.

It is also prolonging his career, hence the calm attitude he exudes when discussing his patient approach to the majors.

"I hope to be competing for a good number of years, golfers keep themselves a lot fitter nowadays if you look after yourself," said Westwood, who was back at Kilton Forest to open the Worksop course's new clubhouse.

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"And I think technology has also helped, it's aided people in keeping up with the distance. Look at Tom Watson nearly winning at Turnberry and Vijay Singh playing his best golf in his 40s. You can sustain good golf for a long period of time."

Westwood has skipped this week's Irish Open to prepare for the WGC Bridgestone Invitational next week and the PGA Championship the following week.

The Ryder Cup is also very much on the radar, but for a man who has everything on his CV but one of the big four, there is no question which victory would mean more to him.

"It would have to be the PGA," said Westwood, who will spend the weekend working with coach Pete Cowen on fine-tuning his short game.

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"Golf, whichever way you look at it, is an individual sport, and winning a major is one of the things I've not achieved in the game so I have to put that right to the top of my list.

"Having said that you still try 110 per cent in the Ryder Cup, there's no doubt about that."

A bi-product of a victory at Whistling Straits next month, or at the Bridgestone, would be a climb over Woods and Mickelson – two towers of the modern game – into the world No 1 spot.

"That would be fantastic," Westwood admitted. "It's something that all players want to achieve, but my immediate focus is on the Bridgestone and PGA Championship, and if I play well in those, becoming world No 1 is a lead on from that.

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"You cannot really set out and say 'I want to become world No 1', it's a case of if you play well enough and consistently enough it may happen."

THE STORY SO FAR

Westwood in the majors

(51 starts, no wins)

Best finishes:

Masters – 2nd 2010; 6th 1999

US Open – 3rd 2008

Open – 2nd 2010; 3rd 2009; 4th 2004

PGA – 3rd 2009

Westwood in the Ryder Cup

6 appearances 1997-2008, 4 wins (1997, 2002, 2004, 2006

Record: Matches 29 – Won 14, Lost 10, Halved 5, Points 16.5.