Westwood eyes the ultimate prize

Lee Westwood believes it could be time for a change at the top of the European game - and he is determined to be right there when it happens.

Colin Montgomerie has won the Order of Merit for a record seven straight years to earn the undisputed crown of European number one. But Westwood currently occupies top slot in the money list with just three events to go and plans to extend his lead this week in the Italian Open at Is Molas in Sardinia.

While at the other end of the ladder players like Ireland's Gary Murphy and Eamonn Darcy fight it out to retain their playing rights for next season in their last counting event, Westwood has his eyes firmly on the £97,000 first prize to increase his slender lead over Darren Clarke who misses the event.

A seventh victory of the season for Westwood - which would be a European tour record - in Sardinia will not be enough to seal the Order of Merit title, however, with the last two events in Spain offering enormous purses.

Prizemoney at the Volvo Masters in Jerez next week has doubled to £2 million and then the following week's American Express World Championship at Valderrama has more than £3 million riding on it.

"I'm here to win," said Westwood who is back after a two-week holiday. "If I win I have a bigger lead in the Order of Merit and I've never won the Italian Open.

"I obviously would like to win the Order of Merit and be European number one. Monty has won it for the last seven years. Now maybe it is time for a change."

While Westwood contemplates adding to his earnings of over £1.3 million already this season, the battle at the lower end of the money list will be even more intense.

The top 115 players on the money list earn their card automatically and miss out on the tortuous six-round qualifying school in November.

Murphy (placed 138th on the moneylist) missed the cut in Madrid last week by one shot and left there in the belief that a return to the Tour school final was his only option. However, a number of late defections from the Italian field means he has another chance to secure his card for next season. Darcy, who is 144th in the order of merit, is in the same position and also requires another good finish this week.

Des Smyth is Ireland's only other representative and after securing his playing rights for next season following his performance last week his priorities will be slightly different from his fellow-countrymen.

Meanwhile, Westwood's biggest challenge for the victory is likely to come from Denmark's Thomas Bjorn who lies fourth on the money list and can still become European number one himself.