Westwood confident that Major success will come

Lee Westwood is convinced that his first Major title is only a question of time.

Joint leader with nine holes to play in the Masters, Westwood eventually finished joint sixth.

His chances went when he bogeyed the 10th, double-bogeyed the 11th and dropped another shot at the short 12th. But by playing the remaining holes in two under par, the 25-year-old received the proof he needed that he has the game and the mind to achieve his dreams.

"There's no doubt in my mind that I'll win one," said the Worksop golfer, who, despite all his successes over the last two years, had never contended for a Major on the final day.

"They say the Masters doesn't start until the final nine holes but I didn't realise how true that was until I stood at the top on the hill on the 11th fairway."

Looking down into the stretch known as 'Amen Corner', Westwood admitted his stomach was in knots and added: "It makes you feel sick. Even the Ryder Cup wasn't as bad as that.

"Obviously I was disappointed with the 10th, 11th and 12th but I got myself in a position to win. After dropping four shots I could have gone for hundreds so I'm delighted with how I finished.

"I hit a lot of great shots and also some great putts. It was brilliant. I enjoyed every minute."

Westwood out-scored playing partner Tiger Woods by seven strokes with a front-nine 33 which swept him to the top of the leaderboard. But he missed the green at the 10th and failed to get up and down, then took six at the 455-yard 11th after the wind switched on him.

"The ball carried miles further than I intended and I was left with no shot over a bunker off a hard lie," he explained.

He caught it a touch thin and was lucky the ball did not run on into water, but even where it finished his chip back was nigh-impossible and he took three more shots to get down.

"Then I played a seven-iron at the 12th, like Tiger. His came up short whereas I went into the back bunker. There's not a lot you can do about that.

"It's all part of the experience. I knew after nine holes I was tied for the lead and I felt alright. I wasn't too nervous.

"I've not felt great all week - he had a head cold and temperature from Tuesday onwards and the humidity did not help - but that's no excuse. I'll look back on it as a really good week - my best in Majors so far."

Colin Montgomerie led on the second day and still had chances with 10 holes to go, but bogeys at the ninth and 12th consigned him to joint 11th spot on three under, two shots behind Westwood and seven adrift of Jose Maria Olazabal.

The Scot, 10 years older than Westwood and also still seeking his first Major, refused to be too downcast as another slipped by.

"It was one of those things," he sighed. "You must be fortunate. It plays a huge role here and the ball just didn't want to go into the hole for me.

"But I'm contending, which is what it's all about. I'm disappointed not to win but everyone says that - except one, of course."

Montgomerie will again fancy his chances when the US Open is held at Pinehurst in North Carolina in June. His accuracy from tee to green is bound to be much more of an advantage there despite the new rough at Augusta.

Ian Woosnam was also upbeat after a 14th-place finish - his best since his 1991 victory.

On the fringe of contention at three under after matching Westwood's outward 33, he came home in 39 but said: "I've enjoyed the week.

"The course was so fiery it was unbelievable and I was a bit nervous with the putter but I hope to be winning again soon." It is nearly two years since his last success.

The trio's showing went some way towards making up for the failure of Nick Faldo and Darren Clarke to make the cut and Sandy Lyle's closing 80 which dropped him to joint 48th.