Darren Clarke is backing his stable-mate Lee Westwood to follow him back into form when the pair join battle for the £108,330 first prize in the Compaq European Grand Prix at Slaley Hall this morning.
With seven winners of European Tour events this year competing and the experienced foursome of Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and Sam Torrance also present, the Northumberland venue is hosting its best ever field.
After brilliant seasons last year soul-mates Clarke and Westwood have both had their difficulties this time round.
Clarke struggled initially but sprang to life with victory in the English Open and then 10th place in the US Open last week.
Westwood's season, meanwhile, has been thrown off course by a shoulder injury, and he knows he needs to play as many competitions as he can to regain his touch.
After joining up with new coach Butch Harmon, Clarke said: "He's made a few simple changes. But it's tough when people's expectations are so high, and everybody goes through a bad spell now and then. You just hang in there until your game comes back."
While obviously targeting the winner's purse for himself, Clarke is also rooting for Westwood to get back into the form which won him seven titles in six countries in 1998.
The Ulsterman said: "I think everybody in the field is pretty strong, but Lee knows the golf course pretty well. We're very supportive of each other. There is great rivalry between us, but we're very good pals. If one of us is going through a tough time we tend to help each other out where we can.
"It's not always a technical thing. It's just a mental approach, and I have something of a thicker head than Lee - so maybe I need more help sometimes. But we pull for each other and we want each other to play well."
A positive Westwood is hoping his rehabilitation will begin at Slaley Hall. The 1998 European Tour Golfer of the Year said: "I've played well here in the past and because I've been struggling with my form lately I thought this would be a good opportunity to start something off and get some form together.
"Having got home on Saturday morning from the US Open as opposed to Monday as I would have liked, I had a couple of extra days to sit around and do a bit of practice. I thought I would be better off playing some competitive golf and hopefully get a few good rounds under my belt.
"I have good memories of Slaley from when I finished third to Monty two years ago. This is a good course that suits me, and it's an ideal opportunity for me to get back on course."
