US Open / Bill Elliott / 13 June 2009 /

Bill Elliott caught up with the world's 19th best golfer ahead of a tournament that has treated him well down the years...

Understandably, the hot word regarding the upcoming US Open mostly revolves around Paul Casey from a British viewpoint. Now No.3 in the world, the Englishman is a lot of people's idea of a potential champion in New York at Bethpage Black.

Well, maybe, but allow me to offer another Englishman for your consideration...Lee John Westwood, world No.19 currently and a golfer who simply loves the US Open. Indeed after playing in nine of these things he can boast that he has finished top ten in three and last year was just a stroke away from joining Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate in that play-off in San Diego. Given it's clearly his favourite major, should Westwood really be trading at [130.0] to win at Bethpage?!

And this despite playing the final round in the company of Woods and all the hullabaloo and nonsense that brings to the occasion. When he interrupted his practice - "I've been working harder over the last fortnight to prepare for this Open than ever before" - he was swift to revisit last summer's heroics in Caifornia.

"Can I win one of these? I think I proved last year in that final round that I can.

"Certainly it was a very important round for me personally because it doesn't get any more intense than that. Playing with Tiger made it extra special and I'm proud that I stayed with him on that day. So I now know that I have the bottle as well as the game. Sure I was a bit nervous but, mostly, I was excited and that is something I take strength from going into this one."

Now 36 and in his prime, a combination of experience, general maturity and much improved fitness, Westwood has been on the quiet side of things for a couple of months. He missed the cut in the PGA at Wentworth and thought he had missed the cut again the following week in Kent only to have to turn his new Jag round and head 100 miles back to The London Club when the afternoon scores shot up.

"It was a funny couple of weeks. I genuinely don't feel my scores reflected the way I was hitting the ball. Sometimes it's like that, sometimes you just don't hole a putt or an approach doesn't quite get the result it deserves. I'm not bothered by it. What I am bothered about is the fact that I don't hole enough putts. Generally, my short game isn't as good as I'd like but it is better than it was.

"I didn't play Bethpage seven years ago - I was going through my 'blue patch' at the time and wasn't qualified - but I've heard Phil (Mickelson) say he thinks the set-up for this Open is one of the best, maybe the best, he's ever seen.

"Certainly all my info tells me it is a tough but fair course and that's good because I enjoy a challenge and I prefer courses that force me to think my way round. Otherwise I can go to sleep and that's not good."

When I put it to him that he was now a better player than a decade ago when he was winning regularly and topping the European Tour Order of Merit (twice) he laughed and rejected the idea.

"No, the stats don't lie. I won more then so I was better then, " he said.

"What I am now is more consistent so that my bad golf is not as bad as it used to be but my iron play is not as effective as it was back then. It's something I'm working on.

"I've gone back to Pete Cowen who coached me through that period so maybe we'll recapture some of the old style. Certainly, I feel good about things. The US Open has always been the major I've fancied myself for most. It just seems to suit my game and that's half the battle if you feel that way.

"I've had a good career so far, very good (28 serious titles and six Ryder Cups) but if you could throw in a major, maybe two, then you'd have to say it has been great. I won't complain if I end up with nowt majorwise but I hope to pull at least one in before I'm done. The other fact is that we're all getting older and so I need to crack on. What I can assure you is that I'm putting in the effort."

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