The four-stroke victory is his seventh in a period of eight months. It has taken him into the World Ranking top 10, it has put on top of the European Money table ahead of Colin Montgomerie and it earned him a total of almost £1.5 million with an additional bonus from one of his sponsors of $500,00 (£312,000).

His performance over the last few months has given him a belief in himself which could lead him to the winners rostrum next Sunday.

"I don't see any reason why not, I'm certainly playing well enough," he said.

"Sometimes I can't believe the last year myself, but most of the time I have taken it in my stride.

"I've worked hard and it is paying off in big dividends - I'm improving month by month rather than year by year. Your confidence goes sky-high when you start winning and you think you can do it every week."

"Birkdale is going to suit me better than Augusta and I'm fresher this time," he said.

If he does win he will be the first European to do so over the links at Royal Birkdale. In addition to the record prize money of £300,000 he will pick up bonus of $1 million (£300,000), for completing the Standard Life-Open Championship double

Three weeks ago he pulled out of the Western Open because he was tired.

Manager Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler said: "He'd had enough in the States after the US Open (where he was seventh) and it was always the right move to come home, have a rest and then build up to the Open."

As for keeping his player's feet on the ground amid all the adulation, Chandler said: "There's no need. He's never had a problem with that.

"He had enough confidence to believe he can win the Open anyway, but winning at Loch Lomond has given him even more.