Open Championship: Lee Westwood helped by advice from big names
Lee Westwood can win a 'deserved' maiden Major after a strong day two at Muirfield, says Mark Roe.
Last Updated: 20/07/13 5:04pm
![Westwood: the Englishman must believe he can win Open, says Roe](https://uatimg.skysports.com/13/07/768x432/Lee-Westwood_2975162.jpg?20130719115638)
That's the view of Sky Sports pundit Mark Roe after Westwood shot a second-round 68 to propel himself to two-under par and in position to contend over the weekend in East Lothian.
The 40-year-old finished second at the Open Championship in 2010 when the hallowed event was staged at St Andrews, and claimed the runner-up berth at the Masters at Augusta in the same season.
But Roe believes Westwood's alleged work with some big names could ensure he breaks his duck on Sunday evening and joins fellow Englishman and new US Open champion Justin Rose as a Major victor.
"Westwood deserves a Major more than anybody for the quality of golf he has played and the career he has had, which includes Ryder Cups and 39 professional wins," Roe told Sky Sports News HD.
"It has been rumoured that he has been speaking to Ian Baker-Finch over his putting and super-coach Sean Foley, who looks after Rose and Tiger Woods, on the long game.
"Perhaps those were the pieces of the jigsaw that were missing but he also took advantage of the earlier start time [on Friday] when conditions were a fraction softer and it was slightly less windy.
"He has put himself exactly where he wants to be, but he has to believe he can do it."
Conservative
However, world number one Tiger Woods, who has 14 career Majors but has failed to capture one since the 2008 US Open, is level with Westwood on two-under par.
And Roe reckons that could be ominous for the rest of the Muirfield leaders as Woods looks to improve on his third-placed finish at the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham.
"This course is longer than Hoylake, where Tiger won the 2006 Open Championship, and it is more punitive around the greens," he added.
"But Tiger has played this a little like Hoylake in that he has taken a conservative approach - and it is working so far.
"He is playing the game of chess that he likes to play and while he got it wrong at Lytham, I think he might get it right here.
"This is his best chance to win a Major for many years and it might start a resurgence in the Majors for him."