Westwood can restore some pride

A glance at the world rankings suggests the 29-year-old Londoner is being optimistic in the extreme. Only one English player is ranked in the top 30, Paul Casey at 30, and just two others are in the top 60. One of them, Justin Rose, isn't even in the Open because his form is so poor that he failed to qualify.

But Davis, who has hauled himself out of his own mini-slump just in time for Troon, suggests it is a case of never mind the quality, feel the width.

He said: "The only English golfer everybody used to talk about was Faldo.

"Now people are talking about Paul Casey being capable of winning a major, they're talking about Ian Poulter the same way, and Justin Rose, and me now I've got my game back.

"Take Luke Donald, a lot of people look at him as being the next English major winner. And they've every right to because he's a great player.

"And don't forget Lee Westwood who has started to play well again. All of a sudden you've got a lot of good players who could jump up and do the business."

In truth, the new crop of English golfers lack that extra spark that has helped establish the likes of Spaniard Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott of Australia and America's Chad Campbell as young but consistent title challengers.

But they possess hearts of English oak, as epitomised by Davis, whose driving went wild after he won the ANZ Championship in Australia earlier this year.

The England World Cup golfer, whose wife Julie is the daughter of former Spurs and England goalkeeper Ray Clemence, said: "My form back then suggested I was never going to be a contender at Troon.

"But I've worked hard at it and now I'm hitting the ball a lot straighter. I've got one of the best short games out there. I just need to start driving with more consistency."

If form is any kind of guide then English players are heading to Troon on a high with David Howell, Westwood and Poulter scoring top 10 finishes in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond on Sunday.

Poulter shares Davis's feeling of confidence.

"I feel if I put four good rounds together in a major I'll win one," he said.

But perhaps it is Westwood who will lead the English charge at Troon.

Indeed, it was at the flat links course on the west coast of Scotland that he recorded his best Open result of 10th place in 1997.

In those days Westwood was a hot prospect indeed, and within three years he had ended Colin Montgomerie's record run of seven European Order of Merit titles.

Then, inexplicably, his game went into freefall.

From once being considered a genuine rival to world No1 Tiger Woods, Westwood crashed so far down the world rankings as to be virtually out of sight.

A grim determination not to be regarded as a talent wasted, in company with hours of hard work with swing guru David Leadbetter, has seen Westwood re-establish himself.

His game has been repaired so well that his manager and close friend "Chubby" Chandler regards the Ryder Cup star as playing better than at any time in his career.

Westwood was runner-up at the European Open in Ireland last week, and he signed off from Loch Lomond with a scintillating 65. Not that he was shouting about it.

"This is the best I've felt going into a major for at least four years," he said.

"But I want to keep it low key and not get caught up in any hype so that I can go into the tournament nice and fresh. Look what happened with Henmania at Wimbledon."

Westwoodmania? It doesn't have that catchy ring to it. But "Lee Westwood, 2004 Open Champion" will sound rather good to all supporters of English sport.