Everything falling into place for Westwood in time for Augusta

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HUMBLE Texas --- He's as relaxed as a puppy sleeping at your feet.

Game's on cruise control. Putter is coming around. Undisciplined shots at a minimum.

In contention. Again.

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That little grin spreads across Lee Westwood's face --- you know the one. Half little kid, half quiet confidence. He's heading into the weekend with a chance to win in the U.S. for the first time in a dozen years and into next week on the short list of those who might just win the Masters.

Westwood's second-round 68 has him sitting two shots off Bryce Molder's lead at the Shell Houston Open going into the weekend. And did we mention he tied for 11th here last year, even with a closing 74?

You get the feeling nothing is going to rattle him. Not a couple of bogeys. Not the rain and certainly not the wind. Not even one of those random undisciplined swings.

This after all, is a man who put the game down when he and wife Laurae started a family. He went from winning seven worldwide events in 2000 to falling out of the top 250 in the world to getting his game back to the top 50 to winning the inaugural Race to Dubai title last year.

We can't tell you how many times he's said, "It's been a long way back."

Long indeed. But brilliant.

Let's put it this way -- being the fourth-ranked player in the world suits him.

He hasn't won this year. Yet. But he's been close. A share of third in Qatar. A share of second at the Dubai Desert Classic. Now the run-up to Augusta.

Westwood flew over to play a practice round last weekend. It was the first time he had ever flown in prior to Masters week.

"I was walking around with [caddie] Billy Foster and said, 'Why have I never been here before The Masters to play a practice round?'" Westwood said.

"Having played it Sunday and Monday, you don't appreciate how lovely the course and surrounds are when the tournament's on -- everything goes on at about 120 mph. You appreciate it for how big it is."

The 69 he shot there didn't hurt, either.

Westwood eased into the Shell Houston Open week and is now the marquee name on the leaderboard. He threw out an opening 69, then shaved off another stroke Friday.

"I went for a couple flags I shouldn't have gone for," he said. "I played overconfident, tried to play a couple of secret shots. I should have just aimed 30 feet left or right of the hole. All in all it was pretty good."

Good? He hit it to 18 inches at the seventh hole and grazed the hole at the ninth. Thirteen greens in regulation. The only oops? Going for some flags he shouldn't.

"It's good to be overconfident," he said. "You should be confident and disciplined. This is the kind of golf course that requires a lot of discipline. It's severe if you start -- in the wrong place and missing flags -- with the flags in the wrong place, much like a major championship might be. The penalties are there for all to see with lakes and runoffs and traps."

Westwood hasn't won in the states since the 1998 Freeport-McMoran Classic in New Orleans. Maybe it's a Gulf Coast/spring thing. Or the week before Augusta. New Orleans had the slot back then.

"It's a priority to win here again, for sure," he said. "I've given myself a few chances over the last couple years, and, you know, be nice to not -- get in the tournament in Hawaii the first time, because I didn't get a chance to play the time I did win here, and so..."

Yes, a win here would be sweet. So would a green jacket.

The Shell Houston course is set up to mirror Masters conditions -- run-off areas, shaved banks, fast greens. Westwood loves it. And said he's ready to go. He doesn't have to step anything up.

"I made that mistake in 2000, was looking for another level when I was four in the World and there wasn't really one to," he said.

"It's about fine-tuning and sharpening everything up just a little bit. Lots of little things make big improvements. I think my game -- I've proved over last couple of years, my game is good enough to win a major championship if I just do a couple of things -- certainly my short game is better now than it was even six months ago.

"And if I just do the right things at the right times, I don't see any reason why I shouldn't win a major championship. I drive it well enough, hit my irons well enough. Short game is coming up to a standard where it's starting to look like I ought to contend week in and week out, really.''

Right now, all that counts is a chance to win this week. Next week will take care of itself.