"I now feel I can contend in the Majors," said the 25-year-old Briton as he looked forward to the US Masters after a highly-creditable sixth-place finish behind David Duval at the Players' Championship in Jacksonville, Florida.

"My game is coming back to where it was - and if Augusta is as tough a course as Sawgrass was this week then the better I'll like it."

Westwood is delighted a switch in the US Tour calendar means he does not have to defend his New Orleans title this week.

"It wasn't until I played at Augusta last year that I realised just how much winning the week before had taken out of me," he said. "Now I can switch off for a couple of days and then prepare for the Masters."

But Colin Montgomerie left Jacksonville far less relaxed after reversing through the field from a top ten starting position. His game did not hold up on a course and under conditions ideal for him. Now he will play in Atlanta this week in a last effort to find form before the Masters.

TRW