Lee's time will come

What did you think of The Masters? I thought it was four days of compelling viewing and in the end America received its peoples' champion.

Over the last few years, Augusta had lost its appeal to many. The greens had become too firm and that was not the way the course was designed. Pars all of a sudden became good while birdies and eagles became rare.

The glory of The Masters were the back nine roars as eagles were made at the par fives and with good play, it was possible to come home in five or six-under and seize the green jacket. The course was set up beautifully in the sunshine and was a little bit more receptive than last year. That meant scoring was better and players could go on bursts of birdies. Furthermore, the atmosphere around the course was astonishing.

Of course, Tiger's return had a lot to do with that and his presence in the field had people buzzing. He was by no means at his best, but even a below par Tiger could manage a fourth place finish, despite constantly fighting his technique. This week he revealed that he will play his second comeback tournament at the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, which gets underway later this month.

The knock is getting louder. Someone the other side has to hear it soon, turn the key and let Lee Westwood walk through the door to major glory.

Golfing greatness is measured by the majors you win and Westwood is edging ever closer to joining this elite group. His runners-up finish at the Masters followed on the heels of two third places in the last two majors of 2009. There is no doubt the man who went into Augusta ranked fourth in the world is punching his weight in the upper echelons of the game. He will feel deep frustration at another major being taken from him but there were plenty of positives to be gained from the first major of the year.

The biggest of those is that he almost won the Masters, which by his own admission is the one of the four majors he is likely to find most difficult to win. There is such a premium on the short game at Augusta and this is the relative weakness in the Westwood armoury.

Conversely Augusta undoubtedly suits the champion Phil Mickelson better than any other course on the planet. He is the ultimate 'master' with six top five finishes to go with his three victories. But it's not just about having a game that fits the course. Augusta fits Mickelson's natural instincts to gamble and go for it. It offers the spots where he can miss and make recoveries if plan A doesn't come off.

Westwood is a more pragmatic golfer - one who believes his steadiness from tee to green and reliability with the putter will be good enough. It was for three rounds, but more often than not the eventual winner also has to do something that seizes the moment. Westwood has won many tournaments and has won the Race to Dubai through his supreme skills from tee to green. His short game has improved, but his putting is still not in the same league of that of Mickelson or Woods.

I think Westwood is a better player than Mickelson. That might sound ridiculous when Phil's the guy wearing the Green Jacket, but I genuinely believe Lee is a better golfer. Mickelson simply has supreme short-game skills and is an awesome putter. You cannot win Majors on ball striking alone but if Westwood spends more time on the short game area that final missing piece might be found.

I think that Westwood's best chance will come at a US Open. He had a great chance at Torrey Pines last year and I think there will be chances for him in the next three majors.

Thongchai Jaidee plans to overcome his Masters tournament disappointment with a successful defence of the Ballantine's Championship in Korea this week.

The Thai star withdrew from the year's first major with an elbow injury but has been given the all-clear to defend his title at the Pinx Golf Club.

Three-time Major winner Ernie Els of South Africa, American Anthony Kim, who finished third at the Masters, and Korean star Y.E. Yang, Asia's first Major champion, will also headline the third edition of the Ballantine's Championship.

Should be another great week of golf ahead.