Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Ecstatic emotional Westwood captures Abu Dhabi title
Ecstatic emotional Westwood captures Abu Dhabi title
Three months short of turning 47, England's Lee Westwood put together a masterclass in leading from the front as he won the US$7 million Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship by two shots.
The two-time European Tour number one started the final round one stroke ahead of his closest rivals, and even though several players made a charge towards him, he never relinquished his lead throughout the day.
Westwood made six birdies in his round of five-under par 67 to finish on 19-under par 269 for his 25th title on the European Tour and his 44th internationally. Currently ranked 63rd in the world, he has risen to be in the top 30.
He also became only the third player on the European Tour to win in four different decades. Westwood's first ever win came in the 1996 Scandinavian Masters.
Two-time Abu Dhabi champion Tommy Fleetwood and Frenchman Victor Perez closed with rounds of nine-under par 63 to set the clubhouse mark on 17-under par 271. Also returning the same total score was England's Matthew Fitzpatrick (67), but that was good enough only for a second place tie.
"Fantastic. I am ecstatic, elated and a bit emotional. Just great to keep playing well, and you know, show that I am still good enough," said a teary-eyed Westwood.
"It was some quality golf. I really felt quite calm on the greens this week and rolled a lot of good putts. That was the key to winning, really. You've got to putt well to win any tournament, but especially here in the desert because the greens are so immaculate."
Westwood immediately gave himself some breathing space with birdies on the second and third holes. He then picked up shots on the fifth and eighth holes to make the turn at four-under par. The Englishman went on to save a crucial par on the 11th hole and his tee shot on the 12th almost spun back into the water. Undeterred, he sank his birdie putt from the fringe.
Westwood's only bogey was on the 16th hole which reduced his lead to one shot, but he kept his calm with a measured par on the 17th and then hit two magnificent shots into the par-5 18th for a final birdie.
Westwood will now get into every major and World Golf Championship event and it has reignited his desire to make it to the European Ryder Cup team for the 11th time.
"I'm not sure I can take any more Ryder Cups," he quipped. "Played ten, and it was good watching the lads last time. But you know, obviously if there's a chance of that, then I might as well go for it. It's nice just to come out and keep proving that you've still got it."
“ENGLAND'S LEE WESTWOOD BECAME ONLY THE THIRD PLAYER ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR TO WIN IN FOUR DIFFERENT DECADES.”