IN another century, back in 1999, Sergio Garcia chased Tiger Woods in the USPGA championship, finishing a valiant second.

The next year, Lee Westwood was the biggest money earner on the European Tour and Charl Schwartzel was celebrating a significant triumph. He won the South African High School Championship.

At the 142nd Open, in a 2013 of extraordinary conditions, it is sobering to consider that Schwartzel is the only member of the trio to have won a major championship. His Masters victory in 2011 trumps the tens of millions won by the Spaniard and the Englishman.

At 33, the doubts grow about Garcia's ability to fulfil his potential. At 40, Westwood is perennially cast as the contender, never the major champion. Both have suffered long and hard in major championships with the ultimate prize being dangled before them and then wafted away on the wind, on an error, on the brilliance of another.

It is difficult to gauge precisely what effect these serial blows have on the victim. Garcia, certainly, has never looked the same vibrant force after blowing a chance to win at Carnoustie in 2007. Westwood has been a repeat offender in majors, with the record showing he tied for fifth at the US Open in 2000 when Schwartzel was making a tilt at that school championship.

The intervening years have been harsh on Westwood's sense of hope and presumably his stability of mind in the most pressurised situations. Yet he always strives to place himself in the cauldron again. On the ninth hole of a baking Muirfield yesterday, Westwood stood over one of those putts that have caused him anguish, cost him majors. It was all of six feet. A wean cried in the crowd, a helicopter clattered overhead. Focused and unmoved, Westwood struck it into the hole with a pleasing certainty.

He had reached the turn in 31. After a brilliant second shot at the 12th, he holed a birdie putt and went six under for the day, five under in total. He stood with his legs crossed and stared at the leaderboard. He was leading the Open.

Cynics will mutter that he immediately posted consecutive bogeys but regular observers of Westwood will counter with the valid argument that the unreliable putter of the Englishman suddenly became a trusted friend rather than an energetic saboteur. The back nine of Muirfield was a severe test of patience, technique and stamina. Westwood saved par brilliantly at 15, 16 and 17 before dropping a shot at the final hole, which can be said to be playing at a difficulty higher than the stated par of four.

Westwood, with a little swagger and a considerable measure of defiance, had completed his round in 68 strokes, three under par. It was a considerable achievement. Schwartzel, who played beautifully to match the Englishman's score, said of the firmness of the fairways: "It is like hitting down a runway." The putting surfaces were difficult, alternately crusty and slick. "Lee surprised me," said Schwartzel. "I thought he putted beautifully. The putts he needed to make, he has made. That's been the difference with him this week so far."

The cynics held on to the phrase "so far". Westwood has finished in the top three of seven majors in the past five years. His psychologist would tell him that this shows he is capable of the very best. Others might says it is a strong indicator there is something in Westwood, whether in technique or mindset, that does not get the job done.

Schwartzel, though, detected something positive in his playing partner. "He's made a whole bunch of par putts that just keep the momentum. That's definitely kept up his confidence. You can see the way he is walking and he is playing. Definitely a danger, man."

Garcia, who shot 73 to finish six over for the championship, was similarly impressed by Westwood but the questions will remain over the capability of either to lift one of golf's four major prizes.

Westwood, though, still has the belief that, at 40, age has not withered him but may help him to prevail. "At the Open Championship, especially when it gets like this, experience is a big factor," he said.

Only seven players won their first major after turning 40. Old Tom Morris did it in the second Open played in 1861, Darren Clarke was the last to do it at Royal St George's in 2011. The others are Mark O'Meara, Tom Kite, Roberto De Vicenzo and Tommy Bolt.

Westwood will have to maintain his putting form if he is to have any chance. He now lives in Florida and has become friends with Ian Baker-Finch, the 1991 Open Champion. "When we've played I could see why he was known as a wizard on the greens," said Westwood. "I had a session with Ian last week and it was a bit of a light-bulb moment. It was more about feel than technique, gripping it more lightly and loosening everything up. He's trying to get across a way of softening everything so I hit putts like a 10-year-old. We all wish we could putt like we did as kids and I'm going back to the clown's mouth and windmill."

He also returns to Muirfield today just 36 holes away from his lifetime's ambition. The leaderboard will give his supporters some comfort. But it may also offer some anxiety. Also sitting on two under is Tiger Woods. On that day in 1999 at Medinah when Garcia was full of promise, brimming with the certainty that life offered majors in abundance, the Spaniard lost out to Wood by one shot in the USPGA championship.

It was the American's second major. He has now won 14, the last of them five years ago. This constitutes a drought for the greatest player of his generation. The drouth remains for Westwood. Only a Claret Jug can slake it.