Westwood's own cautionary tale

HUMBLE, Texas -- After finishing the second round at the Shell Houston Open with a 68 that put him tied for second, Lee Westwood was asked if he felt he could just play his own game and win a major championship or if he needed to move it up to a different level.

Westwood's answer may be something young players who feel the latter is necessary will want to hear. "No, I made that mistake in 2000 when I went looking for another level when I was No. 4 in the world and there really wasn't another [level] to go to," said Westwood of the mindset that helped send his career into a spiral.

Instead, Westwood said sharpening up on the little things can add up a big improvement. "I've proved over the last couple of years my game is good enough to win a major championship," said Westwood, who was T-3 in last year's Britsh Open and PGA Championship, but whose only top 10 in the Masters was a T-6 in 1999. "If I just do the right things at the right time, I don't see any reason why I shouldn't win [one]."

-- E. Michael Johnson