Golfer lee westwood talks about his open hopes

By Simon Hayes on May 1, 2008 8:59 AM |

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LEE WESTWOOD had fans flocking to the Golf Show and the Ryder Cup star hopes 2008 will bring him a long-awaited first major title.

Westwood, 35, has been one of Europe’s top golfers for more than a decade but has yet to claim one of the game’s majors. His best finish was fourth at The Open in 2004, and it’s a tournament he’s determined to win.

“The Open is the most prestigious and important to any British player, with it being the only major held outside the States. Everybody wants to win the claret jug,” he said.

“I’m hoping it will happen sooner rather than later. Seeing the likes of Trevor Immelman and Padraig Harrington winning makes you think ‘why not me?’ I play with these guys a lot and there’s no reason why I shouldn’t.”

Westwood opened the show at ExCeL London on Friday and was in a relaxed mood following last month’s US Masters.

The Augusta tournament saw him finish tied 11th after an early challenge for the green jacket, but he was full of praise for winner Immelman.

He said: “I’m delighted for him. Trevor’s a nice guy and I’ve always felt he’s had the game to win one of the big ones and he proved it by playing some solid stuff.

“It [the Masters] is always tough, always demanding, and this year was no exception. They hadn’t changed the golf course much and the weather was pretty good but it was still only eight under that won.”

Westwood is likely to line up for Europe when they face the Americans in the Ryder Cup in September. The bi-annual contest is always eagerly anticipated by golf fans, and Westwood, who has played in the last five Ryder Cups, revealed it’s no different for the players.

“It’s one of those weeks you really look forward to as a player,” he said. “I’m not presumptuous enough to think I’m in the team already, but I’ve got off to a great start in the qualifying. I’m building up plenty of points so if I do qualify it’ll be one of those great weeks, as ever.”

And he hopes Europe continues its remarkable run of success, having won five of the last six. So to what does Westwood attribute this remarkable run?

He said: “We holed a lot of putts and the critical ones at the right time, which is probably the main factor. I just hope it continues this year.”

simon.hayes@wharf.co.uk