US MASTERS:IF THERE is the feeling that Lee Westwood is opening the doors at majors only for them to be pushed shut in his face, there is no sense of desperation. "The closer I get to winning these major championships, the more I want the next one to come around," said the Englishman, who has gone third-third-second in the last three majors going back to the British Open at Turnberry.

Ironically, given the manner in which Mickelson closed the door on him at Augusta National in Sunday’s final round, the victor had words of consolation for the vanquished. As the two exchanged words in the recorder’s hut, Mickelson told him: “I’ve been in that position, and it sucks . . . but Lee’s playing some of the best golf of anyone in the world, he’s an incredible player and I want him to win his first major, because he is that kind of talent.”

Westwood has won two European Tour money titles, a member of four winning Ryder Cup teams and claimed over 30 professional titles worldwide. The one thing absent is a major title, and Westwood – who celebrates his 37th birthday next week – is looking ahead to the other major venues with increased anticipation. The US Open takes place at Pebble Beach in June, the British Open at St Andrews in July and the USPGA at Whistling Straits in August.

As Westwood put it: “If you sat me down at the start of the year and asked me to rate which one suits me best, I would probably have put the Masters last and say it was the one that suited me the least. So, to finish second is obviously a massive boost for the rest of the year.

“Technically, I think I can still get better in all aspects of the game and just fine-tune everything. It’s a very fine line between finishing second and winning.”

Westwood will play the Quail Hollow Championship in a fortnight’s time, ahead of The Players championship at Sawgrass.