 |
| Masters 2011 |
Despite their winless year, defending champion Phil Mickelson, who has won at Augusta three times, and four-time winner Tiger Woods head the betting.
But 2010 runner-up and third favourite Westwood is not surprised by the odds.
"It's the only major championship that is at the same place every year. If you've played it 10 times that's going to give you an edge," said Westwood.
"That's why you get repeat winners - you get the hang of it."
That certainly appears to be the case for Westwood, at least, who is hoping his career-best second-place finish 12 months ago is a more accurate indicator of his chances of breaking his major duck than his decidedly mediocre start to the season.
"I don't think the months leading up to the Masters tell us a lot," said Westwood, whose 15th position in February's Dubai Desert Classic is his best result of 2011.
Last year at Augusta, the Worksop native had led by a stroke after 54 holes before his final-round 71 was surpassed by Mickelson's superb 67.
Westwood's 13-under-par total of 275, though, had knocked 10 shots off his previous best on the course in 1999, when he finished sixth having led with only nine holes to play before Jose Maria Olazabal emerged victorious.
"Last year has changed my thinking quite a lot, having come so close and having tackled the examination paper quite well," reflected Westwood, who is preparing for the Masters this weekend at the Houston Open.
"I certainly didn't do too much wrong. He [Mickelson] just did a lot of things right.
"I played well on the last day under pressure. Even if I had shot 69 and become the first player to have four rounds in the 60s that still wouldn't have won - although you can't say that because it might have put him under different pressure."
Last season, the 37-year-old Westwood was in the form of his life - winning two tournaments, the St Jude Classic in Memphis and South Africa's Nedbank Golf Challenge, managing a runner-up spot at the Open (behind Louis Oosthuizen) and ultimately ending Woods's reign as world number one.
Martin Kaymer now occupies the top ranking spot but the German has failed to make the cut in three attempts at Augusta.
And with Woods without a victory since November 2009, Westwood rated "me and Phil [Mickelson]" as favourites to be wearing the winner's famous Green Jacket when play ends on a course he clearly has a fondness for.
"When you start to contend more often you look forward to them [majors] more," added Westwood. "I'm excited."
"I love Augusta. I like the tradition and just the way they do everything. It's classy.
"I like the way they're not really bothered what anybody else thinks. They're just a law to themselves.
"They've got their own quirky things like no phones, no running and it's just great - they try to hold onto all the traditions that you should hold onto in the game of golf."
Sources: http://news.bbc.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment