Westy eyes major success

Fitter and stronger than ever, Englishman sets sights on first major victory

Last updated: 27th March 2008

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Westwood: Return to form

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Lee Westwood insists he now feels better-equipped than ever to break his major duck.

The Englishman has cut a revitalised, and trimmer, figure in recent months and looks to have rediscovered something like his very best form of a few years ago.

The 34-year-old tops the current European Ryder Cup standings and is third in the European Order of Merit race after a superb start to the season.

Westwood already has four top-tens to his name this term including runner-up finishes in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi.

This week he heads to the Costa del Sol to defend the Andalucia Open title he won at the Aloha Golf Club last May.

That victory was his first in almost four years on the European Tour, but he wasted little time in adding another as he underlined his return to form by claiming the British Masters crown at The Belfry.

Westwood has endured a couple of somewhat disappointing outings in America over the past couple of weeks having finished 17th and 34th at Bay Hill and Doral respectively.

However, he is hoping a successful defence at Aloha will provide the perfect springboard for next month's Masters and a possible first major triumph.

"I feel closer to a major than ever before," he stated.

"I like all the major venues this year and I feel ready to have a second career and kick on.

"I won so often in the late 90s that if I had a spell where I didn't win, people were always going to highlight it and get on my case about it. But I was never going to get on my own case."