LEE WESTWOOD AND ROSS FISHER AIM TO LORD IT AT TURNBERRY

HE was just plain old Nick back then, Ross Fisher was heading into his first year at secondary school and Lee Westwood was 12 months away from winning the British Youth Championship.

It has been 17 years. Seventeen painful years for English golfers. Seventeen years since Faldo ground Muirfield into submission and became the last man to raise the Cross of St George above an Open clubhouse.

Today, Fisher and Westwood are charged with an oh-so familiar task in English sport - put an end to the misery.

Click here for all the final day tee times

Just as the cricketers will try to beat Australia for the first time at Lord's in three-quarters of a century.

Just as the footballers will try and lift the World Cup for the first time in 44 years when they head out to South Africa next summer.

Just as Andy Murray tried to follow Fred Perry after more than seven decades of Wimbledon woe.

Murray failed. Fisher and Westwood will never have a better chance of decorating the Claret Jug with the red rose.

They will have to overhaul a 59-year-old whose hip is as false as those many English golfing dawns.

And, with a nod to events at the home of cricket, an Aussie - but one who doesn't share his cricketing compatriots' same uncanny knack for success.

Tom Watson and Mathew Goggin will be the final group out at Turnberry, the pair ahead of them will be trying to make their nation a land of Open glory.

Fisher, of course, is the man waiting for the delivery of his first child.

Firstly, if his wife Jo obliges by delaying it for another 24 hours (she is already four days overdue), he can help with the rebirth of English influence in the Majors.

Because don't forget, it's not just 17 years since an Englishman last gave a speech on the 18th green of an Open venue - it is 13 years since one last won ANY Major.

And yes, you've guessed it. That was Faldo. No longer will everyone have to bow and scrape to Sir Nick if Fisher or Westwood can prevail.

And on form, they have outstanding chances. In Fisher's case, as long as he isn't summoned mid-round by the midwife.

"I don't want to miss the birth under any circumstances but I will cross that bridge when I come to it," said Fisher, whose third-round 70 - which was rescued by birdies at the final two holes - left him tied for the lead alongside Watson and Goggin.

And one stroke behind him is the looming shadow of 36-year-old Westwood. Looming - but not nearly as big as it used to be.

Westy has been a stellar figure of English and, indeed, European golf for so many years.

But he is well aware that there is one difference between the very good and the great. One difference between being a chapter in sporting history . . . or a footnote. A Major championship.

MATTHEW GOGGIN - final group

He said: "I have won titles on every recognised Tour and 18 times in Europe, I've also won in the United States and I've played in six Ryder Cups - a Major is the only thing missing.

"And the Open is the one I would most like to win. I'm two years younger than Padraig (Harrington) and Padraig had to be patient before the big wins came."

And it is the example of Harrington - the Open champion twice in succession - that Westwood has followed. He's given up booze in pursuit of the Claret Jug.

After his level-par round kept him at two under, he explained: "I did not touch a drink in January. I have been trying to lose weight and the best way to do that is by not drinking.

"I've lost about a stone since Christmas and I've been on a strict diet as well. I am throwing myself into the gym because I have seen the difference that has made.

"That's important when you hit 30. I have noticed a difference in the distance I am hitting the ball and I can feel a difference in how quickly I can control my swing. I seem to be able to control my muscles in my body better."

But as many fallen English golfers have found to their cost over so many years, it is controlling the muscles in the mind that matter.

And Westwood thinks he finally has the mental experience to handle what today will throw at him.

He said: "I would probably suggest I've experienced more in golf than most people out there playing. I know what it's like to play both ends of the string, I suppose. But having been in contention at the US last year and played that last round with Tiger and learnt a lot, I can carry that on through tomorrow.

"And I think being paired with Tiger this week probably focused me more than I would normally, because there was so much going on. I needed to have almost 110 per cent concentration rather than the usual 100 per cent."

Westwood and Fisher will need that 110 per cent today. Concentration - and bottle And then, one of them might end those 17 years of hurt.

"I don't think there's a much better walk in golf than the walk on to the 18th green in an Open Championship," said Westwood.

There's certainly not a better one than a winning walk. Time an Englishman experienced it.

This article has 0 comments