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Consistency the path to major glory - Westwood

Lee Westwood believes consistency will see him win a major © Getty Images

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Lee Westwood is hoping his decision to spend more time on the PGA Tour will pay off as he looks to end his wait for his first major at The Masters next week.

Westwood came agonisingly close to victory at Augusta two seasons ago, when he finished second to Phil Mickelson. But despite showing consistency in recent seasons - he has finished in the top three five times in the last 10 majors, Westwood is yet to land one of golf's top prizes.

"I think it's right to say I've been waiting for The Masters since the middle of last August when the [US] PGA Championship finished," Westwood told the Daily Mail. "When you've won 37 tournaments around the world but not a major and you're very competitive, it is natural you're going to want to win at least one."

While Rory McIlroy is taking a three-week break before The Masters and Tiger Woods will spend a week at home following his victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend, Westwood will be in action at the Shell Houston Open in Texas.

"There's no question [the majors] are the events that have the extra buzz and anticipation," he said. "But it wouldn't be right to say I am trying to peak for next week.

"I think the way you win majors is trying to win every week. And, when you reach a certain level of technical consistency, there's no reason why you can't strive to do that. Look at Rory, with all these top-five finishes he has been having."

Westwood, who spent most of last season competing on the European Tour, took the decision at the end of last season to rejoin the PGA Tour for 2012.

"It had to be a family decision for me to rejoin the US Tour and increase my schedule because it wouldn't have worked otherwise," he said. "It's tough because the kids want to see their dad, they like me being at home.

"But, with three of the majors in America every year, it makes sense from a career point of view."

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