When Englishman Lee Westwood overtook Tiger Woods atop the PGA Tour world rankings in October of last year, he made history.
Not because of what he had accomplished; rather, it was what Westwood hadn't done that made him so notable, namely: winning a Major title.
Westwood eventually lost the number one distinction earlier this year, but his winless streak in Major tournaments remains intact heading into the 2011 Masters Tournament.
The majors have long been a source of head and heartache for the 37-year-old Westwood, as he's come tantalizingly close to winning each of the four tournaments over the years.
Prior to last season, Westwood's best finishes in the majors were sixth at Augusta and third at the U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship. Last year, though, he came even closer, finishing second at The Masters and the Open Championship.
Now, he enters this year's first major as one of the favorites to win, but can he actually pull it off?
Westy hasn't played poorly through the first three months of 2011, but he hasn't exactly lit the world on fire, either. His decidedly mediocre play is a concern, although it could be chalked up to early season doldrums.
Plus, he showed us he could compete at Augusta last year, playing exceptionally well down the stretch and battling eventual champ Phil Mickelson shot-for-shot.
In the end, Westwood figures to be in contention come Sunday, and as long as he keeps things close, the 37-year-old has a fantastic chance to bring home his first ever major title, making him the first English Masters champion since Nick Faldo in 1996.
For more golf news, check out 2011 Masters Odds, Favorites and Predictions for This Year's Tournament.
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