Faldo supports Westwood

NICK FALDO today insisted that Lee Westwood, Great Britain's top- ranked golfer, can emerge from a nightmare slump as a better player.

Westwood, who last year ended Colin Montgomerie's record run of seven successive European Tour Order of Merit titles, goes into the 130th Open at Royal Lytham on Thursday 87th in the latest money list.

The Ryder Cup player has blamed his desperate form - four missed cuts in the last seven tournaments including an early exit from the Scottish Open won comfortably yesterday by US Open champion Retief Goosen - on attempts to change his game so that he can mount stronger challenges for major championships.

Faldo did the same thing in the mid-eighties and reaped the reward for perseverance when he went on to win three US Masters and three Opens. "It is a very tough thing to play and change your swing at the same time," said Faldo.

"You just have to struggle through it, then you suddenly find your game and off you go again.

"For sure, Lee can come through this."

The awful truth confronting West-wood is that he will find a tight Lytham course is ready to punish any player whose game is not up to scratch.

Faldo warned: "You are going to need the ball on the straight and narrow this week. You won't get away with anything there."

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