Westwood returns refreshed for action

A major title is the only thing missing from Westwood's cv and with the countdown on to the Masters in April, he begins the four-tournament gulf swing at the star-studded Abu Dhabi Championship determined to hit the ground running.

"I'm just trying to continue where I left off last season," said the 37-year-old from Worksop, who despite being top of the rankings for 12 weeks, has only played three times in that period.

"I know it's a new year, but you don't really think about that as a golfer – they all blend into each other after a while.

"There is a lot of focus on you when you are world No 1 – it's quite intense and there's a lot to do – and it was nice to get away, lock the clubs up for four or five weeks, not think about holing three- or four-footers for par and get mentally fresh.

"I've got that feeling where it may be a good week, but I'm not putting any pressure on myself – I'm going out there with no expectations. I've got to try to get my preparation right for Augusta in April."

The world No 1 is joined in Abu Dhabi by the four major winners from 2010 – Phil Mickelson, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen and Martin Kaymer – and a quartet from Yorkshire: Simon Dyson, Danny Willett, John Parry and Richard Finch.

Sheffield-born Neil Cheetham is four shots off the qualifying mark after the opening round of the African section of international final qualifying for this summer's Open. Places are awarded to the top three.