Lee Westwood says age is no issue when it comes to Links golf

Lee Westwood is hoping to use all his experience to win this week’s Open Championship and break his major duck at the age of 44.

The Englishman has been one of the most consistent players in the majors over the years, with 18 top-10 finishes in 77 outings in the big four events.

The Ryder Cup veteran has five top-10s in the Open plus three second-place finishes across the majors, including at the 2010 Open when Louis Oosthuizen won at St Andrews.

He has yet to get over the line and time may be running out as he reaches his mid-40s, but the Worksop-born ace will take comfort from the fact that Darren Clarke, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson were all over 40 when they won successive Championships from 2011.

The veteran may not be the longest hitter in the field but feels that there are other attributes he can bring around Birkdale to compete with the best.

“You have to think your way round,” he said. “I’m 44 and you think a little bit differently as you get older, but hopefully I can think a bit more wisely and use a bit of cunning and guile on the golf course.”

And Westwood feels age is no barrier to success after witnessing many older players perform well at the year’s third major.

“One of the times I’ve come close to winning was Turnberry and Tom Watson lost in a play-off at 59,” he added. “Last time it was held around here [in 2008] Greg Norman made a run at it at 53.

“The US Open course was a bomber’s style course where they had a big advantage, but this course brings a lot more players into it.”

Tagged Lee Westwood, The Open