Westy out to break his duck

Westwood: chasing second Order of Merit crown

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Lee Westwood is hoping to close the gap on Padraig Harrington at the top of the Order of Merit by claiming his first European Tour victory of the season at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship this week.

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Westwood made further inroads into Harrington's lead last weekend as he defied a Ryder Cup hangover to finish as runner-up in the British Masters at The Belfry.

It could and perhaps should have been even better for the Englishman who led by three shots with ten holes of the final round remaining before slipping to an agonisingly play-off defeat to Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

The defeat, which came at the third extra hole, means that Westwood is still without a victory this year, although he has managed no fewer than 11 top-ten finishes in what has been a wonderfully consistent campaign.

He is now hoping to break that duck at St Andrews as he goes in search of a second Order of Merit crown.

"Last week made some inroads for the Order of Merit but I am still missing a win this year," the World Number 13 told the European Tour's official website.

"Everyone else has won and they are the really big cheques so that shows the consistency I am at."

However, having admitted at the end of last week's tournament he was beginning to feel the strain after what has been a hectic schedule, Westwood faces a real test of his character if he is challenge.

A star-studded field has assembled to take to the greens of three of Links golf's most prized assets; the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.

Defending Champion Nick Dougherty, who is seeking to make history as the first ever golfer to defend the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, heads up a field containing ten of the European Ryder Cup team as well as the likes of Darren Clarke, Colin Montgomerie, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.