The laid-back approach is deceptive, the affable nature
masks a sterner personal drive and the ease of many of his victories pays insufficient
credit to the unseen work discipline.
But as England's finest surveys the rest of Europe from its highest peak, passes Colin
Montgomerie in the world rankings and celebrates the 23rd victory of a still embryonic
career, one thing is without doubt: Lee Westwood is ready to claim his place among the
game's all-time greats.
Westwood knows what it will take - the self-sacrifice, the painstaking practice and the
need to control his own ambitions and dreams at a time when golf is dominated by a
superior force.
"There is no magic pill you can take," said Westwood as he celebrated his
fifth European success of the season - the Belgacom Open - which puts him just one behind
the record for a single year, shared by the incomparable Seve Ballesteros, seven-time
Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo, a Major winner six times over.
Westwood, still only 27, added: "There are no secrets. I've just got to keep
working hard and, hopefully, it will take me to the next level."
That is the level to which Montgomerie, whose current form is giving cause for serious
concern at his ability to hang on to his European crown, has been unable to reach for a
variety of reasons. Westwood knows the time will come when, despite the awesome presence
of Tiger Woods, he will get the chance to win one of golf's gold medals.
"If I continue to play like I can and as I did in Belgium, then I'm not far short
of it," said Westwood, whose success took him to fourth in the world and close to
third-placed David Duval, who is injured. "I just have to do it more regularly."
Westwood's staggering record suggests he is already doing it often enough to make him
clear favourite to succeed Monty as Europe's premier player. Apart from his 23 worldwide
wins, he has no fewer than 29 other top-five finishes ... and he has played in only 210
events. It means Westwood turns almost 50 percent of his top fives into wins and his
average for a top-five finish is one in four.
Now, after winning in every major golf-playing continent, Westwood can take the next
step before next season's grand slam title chase starts. The introduction of the World
Golf Championship events has produced a second tier, to which Darren Clarke has already
moved by beating Tiger Woods in a head-to-head earlier this year.
Westwood has already beaten Woods in regular competition and gets another chance to
move closer to him in the world rankings when they appear on the same bill twice before
the end of this year.
Lee Westwood with his most recent trophies, Belgacom Open.Allsport.
They meet at Valderrama for the American Express WGC event, then go against one another
in Thailand shortly afterwards. "All I can do is keep working on what I have been
doing and hopefully, that will make me better and better," said Westwood.
Among the congratulations Westwood received for his latest success came those of top
American coach Butch Harmon, who acknowledged the recent input of long-time guru Peter
Cowen, polishing his posture and flattening his shoulder turn a little.
"Lee looked great and that's the best I have seen him swing for a while,"
said Harmon.
Now Westwood knows he must improve in the Majors, although this year saw him finish
higher than ever before in a grand slam event - his fifth in the US Open improving one
position on a personal best set at the previous year's US Masters.
"If there can be a disappointment during a year in which he has achieved so much,
then not being in contention for a Major may be one," said his manager, Andrew
Chandler. "But he has a burning desire to succeed and is ready to move to the next
level."
