Abu Dhabi: Lee Westwood is the only world number one who hasn't won a major, a fact that the press has enjoyed reminding him of ever since he surpassed Tiger Woods in the rankings last October.
However Colin Montgomerie, perhaps the biggest major-less high flying golfer of all time, seems to believe the endless media glare on this subject will only spur Westwood into getting his prized gong later this year.
Speaking at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, where Montgomerie scored a two under par 70 on day one, the Scotsman said: "Lee Westwood deserves the position he's in.
"It doesn't matter how many Majors he's won and I can say that from experience because I haven't won one either."
The 47-year-old from Glasgow has only managed second at the US Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship with a tied-for-eight best at The Masters, added wryly: "Lee has to wait until at least April when it could well be his time.
"He led after three last year and I think he'll lead after four in Augusta — it's certainly coming, its not a case of if but when."
‘Monty', whose highest world ranking is second, said of what's fast becoming Westwood's Achilles heel: "I know Lee Westwood as well as anyone and it (the constant media questioning) won't bother him at all.
"It will just make him even more anxious to win one."
Westwood career-bests at the majors so far are: second at the Masters, third at the US Open, second at The Open and tied for third in the PGA Championships.
Competition at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, filled as it is with 2010's four major winners (Mickelson, Kaymer, Oosthuizen and McDowell) — the first time this collation has occurred outside of the US — is a major test for Westwood to justify his positioning.
It could well act as an acid test to his potency for the 2011 Majors.
His first-day score at the Abu Dhabi Golf Course of three under par with one bogey and four birdies, five shots off the lead, is indeed a positive start to the year.
Meanwhile Monty says his own Major ambitions are "goals that are fast becoming tougher and tougher to achieve".
"Obviously I have to get in one first.
"I'm not in one this year. I have to qualify to Sunningdale and for the US Open only if I can do that will I stand a chance."
When asked if a golfer can show greatness in other ways besides a Major, Monty said: "Yes, of course you can.
"Indeed, lets hope so and I hope the 2010 Ryder Cup captaincy has proved that. Winning the European Tour Order of Merit eight times — that's a nice honour but I wouldn't say it's greatness.
"World's number one is a great honour for Lee Westwood, sure, but you can't equate it to a Major. I mean it's very different."
Great dan: From eagle to caddy
Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen got his Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship campaign off to a flying start yesterday after shooting a stunning hole-in-one in his opening round.
The triple European Tour winner, 35, achieved the feat on the par-three seventh to record the fourth hole-in-one in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship's six-year history, after Darren Fitchardt, Alvaro Quiros and Francesco Molinari achieved the feat in 2006, 2009 and 2010 respectively.
"It felt good," said Kjeldsen after a round of 69 to end the day on three-under. "I hit it 173 yards to the pin; it came in off the right and then rolled nice and gently into the hole. I wasn't thinking about it until my partners [Scott Strange and John Bickerton] started shouting, ‘Go in! Go in!'"
Kjeldsen not only recorded an eagle in his scorecard as a result of his inch-perfect shot; he also takes home a Cadillac CTS as a reward from one of the Championship's sponsors. "It's a very nice car," he said later.
— Staff Report
