Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts is confident of making an impression at The Open on his first visit to Muirfield this week.
The Belgian believes he is closing in on a major breakthrough as he familiarises himself with the course.
Colsaerts, 30, finished 10th at the US Open in June and enjoyed his best Major placing of tied seventh at Royal Lytham last year.
He is also in good heart after a strong showing at last week’s Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, where he finished joint eighth after four sub-70 rounds.
Colsaerts, who showed his liking for the big time with the best round by a Ryder Cup rookie in Europe’s dramatic team success last year, said: “I have been told a million times Muirfield is one of the fairest of The Open courses, so I am quite looking forward to seeing what it is like.
“I fancy my chances every time I tee off. Even last week if I had played a bit better I would have been a lot closer than I was. It is great to head to The Open with the game in decent shape.”
Colsaerts finished four strokes behind winner Phil Mickelson on Sunday after a final-round 69.
It was a performance he was pleased with and he feels he can make the necessary improvements to shine this week.
Colsaerts said of his closing round: “There were a couple of mistakes here and there but apart from that I thought I played really good. It has been a long time since I felt I had good momentum on the Sunday and gained ground but I’m quite satisfied with the week I had in preparation for The Open — good links golf.”
