Wonderful Westwood wins in DubaiMonday 23 November, 2009 |
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 Lee Westwood saved his "best ever" performance for the Dubai World Championship, as a victory also ensured that he topped the European Tour money list for the second season in his career.
The 36-year-old was consistent and dominant with his golf irons and golf balls over all four rounds in Dubai, but saved his best for the closing 18 holes as an eight-under-par 64 handed him a six-stroke victory.
This secured Westwood a winner's cheque of €830,675 and moved him €627,742 ahead of previous Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy, helping him become champion for the first time since 2000.
Westwood said: "I think the whole weekend was my best ever. I haven't made a bogey over the weekend, two bogeys on the week. 66-64 on the last two days under probably what is going to be the most severest of pressure over a long period.
"And I can count on one hand how many poor shots I've really hit, because even the shots that I've hit to 30 feet on some holes, I've been absolutely spot on where I've been aiming."
Meanwhile, his final round also set a new course record at the Jumeirah Golf Estates venue and lifts him to a new career high of number four in the world rankings.
Titleist Pro V1x golf ball user McIlroy could do nothing about Westwood's charge and completed the season-ending event in third place.
The 20-year-old was full of praise for the Englishman, but was also not too dejected with his own performance as he finished second overall in the Race to Dubai standings after his closing round of 67.
He said: "Leading the Race to Dubai coming into this week and then going to finish third, most times that would be good enough, but obviously Lee is just in a different class, he's playing so well.
"I gave it my best shot. At the end of the day, it's not going to be quite good enough, but I feel as if I've played well the last four days and Lee Westwood has just played some unbelievable golf. I was making birdies and just wasn't gaining any ground."
Ross McGowan was the tournament's surprise package and held his nerve with his golf clubs in the final round playing alongside Westwood to finish second after a 68.
Wilson Staff Smooth golf driver user Padraig Harrington and Geoff Ogilvy, who plays with Cobra Pro MB golf irons finished tied for fourth, nine shots behind the winner.
Further down the field, Ogilvy's fellow Cobra golf equipment user Ian Poulter was left wondering what might have been had he played well in the event's opening two rounds.
Closing efforts of 68 and 65 gained him a share of ninth on ten under for the tournament alongside Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Meanwhile, Martin Kaymer, who would have become Race to Dubai champion if victorious, struggled for rhythm and finished in a tie for 37th on two under.
And Ross Fisher, who was the only other player with an outside chance of topping the money list, fared even worse in a share of 42nd.
However, this pair remained in their previous positions of third and fourth respectively in the finalised standings.
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