WESTWOOD OUTCLASSES YOUNG GUNS IN DESERT
RTV
LEE WESTWOOD turned the clock back yesterday with a victory in Abu Dhabi that put the 46-year-old in contention for a dramatic Ryder Cup return.
Westwood held off the challenges of fellow Englishmen Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood, plus France’s Victor Perez, to triumph by two strokes in the first big European Tour event of the year.
“I cannot believe I am that old,” said an emotional Westwood, whose Falcon Trophy success came 23 years after his first Tour win.
“It’s getting harder but it’s nice proving I can still do it.”
It was his 44th professional victory and catapulted Westwood, who missed out on the 2018 Ryder Cup, back in with a chance of making Europe’s title defence at Whistling Straits in September.
Westwood was a vice-captain to Thomas Bjorn last time out and was expected to fulfil the same role to Padraig Harrington before stepping up to the captaincy in Rome in 2022.
But he is certainly open to an 11th Ryder Cup appearance.
“It was good watching last time, but if there is a chance to get in the team I might as well go for it,” said Westwood. “I’m not going to lie, I didn’t play a lot of golf coming into this week and I didn’t know what to expect.
“It has been a good week. I’m really happy the way I controlled myself.
“I wasn’t paying attention to other people, I was just trying to control my emotions.”
The former world No1 was the overnight leader and, although his one-shot advantage came under threat, he mixed six birdies with a sole bogey to shoot a five-under-par 67 and finish on 19-under overall.
Fleetwood – who fired a bogey-free 63 on his 29th birthday – wound up joint second alongside
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Fitzpatrick and Perez. World No1 Brooks Koepka ended in a share of 34th position.
“You just concentrate on what you’re doing,” said Fleetwood. “Every week we play somebody is going to play great golf, and at the moment that’s Lee.
“I’m very, very happy with my own weekend.” Westwood also became only the third player to win European Tour titles in four different decades, joining Des Smyth and Mark McNulty.
He was 63rd in the world going into the event, but a 25th win on the European circuit should move him into the top 30 today and open up the strong possibility of a Masters return. The top 50 in the world on April 6 qualify. ❑JUSTIN Rose finished runner-up to American Matt Kuchar at the Singapore Open.
It’s harder, but nice to prove I can still do it