Price banks on the Brits

13 April 2012

Nick Price draws on personal experience when he states a belief that Ryder Cup team-mates Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke can win Majors. After all, he knows what it takes because he has been there and done it, three times.

Victories in the US PGA in 1992 and 1994 and another in The Open at Turnberry in 1994 have established the 44-year-old Zimbabwean as one of the top players of the modern era.

He watched Westwood from close quarters when the two men found themselves playing as partners in the third round of the Dimension Data Pro-Am here on Saturday. Then Price chased in vain as Clarke took the title on Sunday.

Price said: "Both Lee and Darren have major golf in them, there is no doubt. Darren is always impressive when he is on his game and Lee plays with an intensity and an incredible ability to focus.

"He obviously has a good, sound swing and a good short game, but I think his strength is in the power of his mind. Lee is an intense competitor when he gets over the ball and I really like the way he plays.

"I certainly wish that I was his age again, He is going to make a boatload of money and he is going to win a lot of tournaments."

Westwood is already a multi-millionaire at the age of 27 after taking titles around the world, including the Freeport McDermott Classic in the United States and last season's European order of merit.

Clarke, 32, confirmed his talent by twice finishing second in the European money list and out-duelling Tiger Woods in the final of the Andersen Consulting World Golf Championship Match Play in Carlsbad, California, 12 months ago.

According to Price, success in the States has established Westwood and his friend Clarke as genuine contenders for the three Majors in the United States this year - the US Masters at Augusta in April, the US Open at Southern Hills, Tulsa, in June and the US PGA to be hosted by the Atlanta Golf Club in August.

Price added: "Lee and Darren are in a different situation to, say, Colin Montgomerie, because they have won in America. That is important, knowing that they can go over there and win."

However, Price has put down his own marker on The Open to be staged at Royal Lytham in July.

It was there, 13 years ago, that Price had the Claret Jug snatched from his grasp when, in the final round, Seve Ballesteros hit a nine-iron from 135 yards to within three inches at the 16th hole, and that was good enough to break his rival's resistance.

Price, regarded as one of the most genuine and accommodating players, does not feel that Lytham owes him one. But he said: "I feel I have a good chance to win there because once you have played well on a golf course you feel that you can play well again there.

"I hope it is dry and hard and fast. That is when a bad shot is penalised, a little bit of a cut or a little draw runs off into the rough. But if you hit the ball straight, it stays in the fairway.

"If I get all the things together at the right time I honestly have the belief and confidence to do it."

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Price banks on the Brits

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