Open Form Guide

08	07	06	05	04	03	02	01	00	99
67	35	31	MC	4	MC	MC	47	64	18

There was once a time when Lee Westwood seemed to find winning rather easy; he won 20 times worldwide between 1997 and 2000. Since then he has earned the unwanted reputation of being a nearly man; no less than 46% of his last 50 starts have been top ten finishes and yet he has won only twice (both times in 2007) since 2003. In addition to his record of solid under-achievement, his record in the Open is pretty poor for someone of his quality: fourth and tenth at Troon but no better than 18th in his 11 starts elsewhere. He has even admitted that he finds links golf a struggle and lacks the low ball flight required in windy conditions. The good news is that Troon is just up the road from Turnberry so he might find inspiration from the west coast of Scotland. The bad news is that his sickly nature resurfaced at Loch Lomond when a bout of hay fever turned into a chest infection. "I was stupid to play, especially with the Open next week," he later admitted, although he did recover to finish tied eighth.