EUROPEAN/US TOURS: Former European number one Lee Westwood has turned to David Leadbetter in an attempt to revive his flagging career and admits he is "open to suggestions".
Westwood has not won a tournament in over two years since claiming his sixth title of the 2000 season, which saw him end Colin Montgomerie's seven-year reign at the top of the Order of Merit.
He finished a lowly 75th on the money list last season, and from a high of fourth in the world rankings has slipped to 180th.
The 29-year-old is unlikely to completely dismantle and rebuild his swing under Leadbetter as Nick Faldo famously did in the late 1980s, but he will spend at least 10 days at Leadbetter's academy in Florida later this month after competing in this week's South African Open and the Dunhill championship next week.
"I'm just playing these two weeks and then I don't know when I'll play again," Westwood said. "I'm going to see David at the end of January in Florida, and then I've not got any tournaments scheduled until Dubai (in March) maybe. We'll see how it goes.
"I didn't feel like I was getting anywhere with Pete (Cowen) and I've not really done much for the last couple of years and felt like I needed a change.
"I've been to see him before at the beginning of 2000 and liked what he had to say. He knows his stuff, obviously, coaches a lot of good players, and I thought he was the best guy to go and see."
Asked about the possibility of a complete swing change, Westwood added: "You never know what will happen when I get there. I am open to suggestions after the last couple of years.
"My ambition is to get back where I was. I'm not thinking about majors because my position in the world ranking is such that I'm not in them. It's a case of building it up slowly and getting back into the top 50 and going from there."
Despite his trials and tribulations of the last two years, however, Westwood is keen to get back on the course and start his season earlier than normal at the €700,000 South African Open - the second oldest Open in the world - at Erinvale Golf Club near Cape Town.
"I'm looking forward to it," added Westwood. "It's a bit earlier than I normally play so hopefully it will get me into the swing of things a bit earlier this year and maybe build up a bit of confidence. I played a few holes last week but that's been about it."
South African Tim Clark defends the title he won last year after coming through pre-qualifying for the event, with a strong European contingent also chasing the €120,000 first prize.
There are six Irishman in the field: Peter Lawrie, Gary Murphy, Ciarán McMonagle, Time Rice, Graeme McDowell and Gavin McNeill.
