Golfer Westwood works on putting to win first major

Lee Westwood, the world's number-two golfer, said Sunday he was working hard on his putting to help him secure an elusive first major championship. The 38-year-old Englishman, who has never won one of golf's four biggest tournaments, said he was trying to "step up" his play on the greens as he strives to win a major next year. "Although I have had a good year, if I had putted well I would've had a great year. That is really what has been holding me back," he told AFP after defeating Liang Wenchong in a play-off to win the Shui On Land China Golf Challenge. Westwood, who finished second in the US Masters and the British Open in 2010, and tied third in the US Open this year, said of 2012: "Obviously I would like to win a major championship. I think I have the game for it. "I haven't done it yet but I've been close and I'm just trying to step up my game a little bit higher. Hopefully that will be enough to help me win a major." The winner of 22 European Tour titles added that he had tried experimenting with the controversial "belly putter" this year but that it had made his putting "worse". "I have used it but I'd rather not," he said. "I am a bit of a traditionalist so I would like to stick with the shorter one. A belly putter, used by an increasing number of players, has a shaft around six to eight inches longer than a standard 35 inch putter and is designed to restrict unwanted movement. Some commentators have said it unfairly helps players and should be banned. In August, Keegan Bradley became the first player to win a major while using one when he triumphed in the USPGA. The Shui On Land China Golf Challenge was an exhibition event which also featured Rory McIlroy, the world number-three, and Ian Poulter, ranked 23rd. Eighteen holes were played in seven Chinese cities in seven days. Westwood will return to China in November for the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.