Daily Mail

WESTY’S ONE FOR THE AGES

Veteran Lee a winner in four different decades

- DEREK LAWRENSON Golf Correspond­ent in Abu Dhabi

IT IS still more than two months until the clocks go forward, and Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have yet to hit a shot. Even so, have we already witnessed the most heartwarmi­ng victory of this golfing year?

Almost 26 years to the day since he made his debut on the European Tour in the Madeira Open — he finished tied 19th and won £3,000 — Lee Westwood claimed the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championbe ship yesterday for a winner’s cheque of £900,000.

It was the 44th victory of his glittering career, his 25th on the European Tour and — what meant most of all — he has now won titles in four different decades. His first was the Scandinavi­an Masters in 1996. No wonder he wept openly, while British sporting greats Gary Lineker and Sir Nick Faldo paid tribute on Twitter. ‘Congratula­tions, it must

great to still beat players half your age,’ said Faldo.

Westwood was happy to confirm the adage that the older you get the more it means. ‘I had a ridiculous run during my career where I was winning six or seven titles a year and the trophies felt like London taxis, that another would come along shortly,’ he said. ‘So yes, I do enjoy them more now, and I’m very proud to win in four different decades.’

There was no hiding place on this day, no chance of pinching victory through the failings of others. Tommy Fleetwood celebrated his 29th birthday by once again putting on his Sunday best, with a sublime 63. Matching him was rising Frenchman Victor Perez and another star of the English game, Matt Fitzpatric­k. At 46, Westwood had to show he still had the nerve, and play the shots when it truly mattered.

A bogey at the 16th cranked up the pressure, leaving him needing two pars to win, but he wrapped up the victory in style. Two sensible shots to 20ft for a regulation figure at the 17th, followed by two magnificen­t blows to the par-five 18th green, and a two-putt birdie for a 67 to follow his 65 on Saturday and a two- stroke success over the aforementi­oned trio.

Westwood has experience­d just about everything life can throw at a man during his time on tour. On one side of the ledger, he is the father of two children, has won all those titles and been the stalwart of countless Ryder Cups. On the other, he has been through a nasty divorce, fallen as low as 256th in the world, and seen any number of majors slip through his fingers.

By rights, it should have taken its toll, leaving him contemplat­ing life on the senior circuit. Instead he is back in the world’s top 30, back in all the majors and back in contention to equal Faldo’s record of 11 Ryder Cup appearance­s. ‘I thought I was done with the Ryder Cup,’ he said. ‘Now this victory has given me a chance of making it and I’d love to play if I feel like I do now.

‘To be honest, I had a hard time earlier in the week keeping a lid on the excitement I was feeling about my game. That’s as calm as I’ve felt on the greens for a long time and I think I hit more fairways than anyone else. I might be 46 but I feel as healthy as I did when I started on tour as a teenager. As for the Ryder Cup, I’m now in all the big events, so who knows? It’s certainly gone from not being a considerat­ion at all to near the forefront of my mind.’

Fleetwood was full of admiration for Westwood, but not surprised. ‘I said before qualifying began last September that I thought he’d make the Ryder Cup team,’ he revealed. ‘People think the game comes naturally to him, but he still works hard and he’s still really good.

‘Now he’s finished off this event, it can only add to his confidence. The other thing that’s overlooked is that he’s still got the passion.’

As for Fleetwood, it is not a bad habit when you play all your best golf on Sunday. In his last five tournament­s, he has shot final rounds of 64, 67, 65, 65 and 63 — a staggering total of 36 under par. What a year it promises to be for the Merseyside­r if he keeps that sequence rolling. What a year it already is for Westwood.

 ?? GETTY IMAGES/REX ?? First and last: winning in Abu Dhabi and at the Scandinavi­an Masters (left)
GETTY IMAGES/REX First and last: winning in Abu Dhabi and at the Scandinavi­an Masters (left)
 ??  ?? 1996
1996

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom