Lee Westwood is determined not to pile pressure on himself as he begins his countdown to The Open this week.

Beaten by a single shot in the US Open two weeks ago, a lot will now be expected of the former European number one at Royal Birkdale - especially with Tiger Woods out of the way.

But on the eve of the French Open at Le Golf National near Paris, Westwood said: "I went to the US Open without any expectations and I think that's the way I need to approach them."

He added: "I had hardly hit any balls going into it and I wasn't feeling great. I came very close and didn't feel that I lost it - I think Tiger and Rocco (Mediate) played very well to finish one ahead of me."

One behind the world number one entering the final day, Westwood turned that into a one-stroke lead with nine holes left. But the pair both came to the last needing a birdie to tie and Woods was the one to get it.

The 35-year-old from Worksop was able to reflect, though, on his best-ever finish in a major, a week where his re-emergence as a player of world class was there for all to see - and being paired with Woods did not seem to affect him as much as it has others.

"I think that's because I have been in that situation before," he added. "I have played with Tiger so many times in Ryder Cups and majors and World Golf Championships, so I know what to expect.

"It's not so much playing with Tiger, it's everything that goes on around. The amount of people outside the ropes and everyone moving around it, it can be tough, but you do get used to it."