• European Tour

McIlroy win gives me fresh hope - Westwood

ESPN staff
July 1, 2011
Lee Westwood is still striving to break his Major duck © Getty Images
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Lee Westwood is hoping to feed off Rory McIlroy's recent US Open triumph, as he bids to land his first major by lifting the Claret Jug at Royal St George's.

Westwood could only watch in awe as Ryder Cup team-mate McIlroy destroyed the field last month at Congressional, the Ulsterman claiming victory by a staggering eight shots.

Five top-three finishes in the last seven majors Westwood has contested is a good indicator for the Englishman, and the 38-year-old is confident his recent showings in the sport's biggest events will stand him in good stead heading into this year's Open Championship, which starts on July 14.

"It's one of the four tournaments of the year I try and peak for," Westwood told Sky Sports News. "The last one went fairly well but obviously Rory did his job a little bit too well. But third place finish was good and I'm looking forward to the Open because I'm going to feed off the confidence I gained at the US Open.

When asked whether he thought McIlroy's magnificent showing would rub off on him, he said: "Very much so. Not just Rory's; Charl [Schwartzel] winning the Masters, Martin [Kaymer] winning the US PGA and Louis Oosthuizen winning the Open Championship last year. You try and feed off all those performances.

"When you play with people week in, week out and they go and pull off something special like that it gives you a pat on the back and a confidence boost that you can do it too."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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