Westwood wins Race to Dubai
22 Nov 2009 - 12:40:19
Lee Westwood triumphed at the Dubai World Championship after a nerveless final round 64 secured a seven shot victory and with it The Race to Dubai title for 2009.
Westwood, who led by two overnight, fired one of the finest rounds of his career to take the €830,675 first prize at the Earth course that also secured his status as European Number One for the second time in his career.
The 36 year old, who wins The Race to Dubai having earned €3,240,951 in 26 events this season, becomes the eighth Englishman to have won the Harry Vardon Trophy on two occasions or more and the 18th player overall.
His remarkable final round meant he ended on 23 under par, six shots ahead of Ross McGowan.
It makes him just the third golfer in European Tour history to finish European Number One having also won the final event of the season. The last was Colin Montgomerie in 1993.
As well as being his 32nd victory worldwide as a professional and his second victory on The European Tour this season, the win moves Westwood up to World Number Four in the Official World Golf Rankings, matching his highest career position.
Westwood's win also makes him one of five players to have passed the €19million mark in European Tour Official Career Earnings, just the fifth player to achieve this, and is the second time he has landed over €3million in prize money in a single season.
McGowan carded a final round 68, including five straight birdies from the 12th, to hold on to second place on 17 under par after a sustained charge from Rory McIlroy, who fired five birdies on his back nine before bogeying the par five 18th to sign for a five under par 67 and with it third place place on 15 under par.
Geoff Ogilvy finished down in fourth alongside Padraig Harrington on 14 under par while Alexander Noren ended in sixth a shot further behind.
- EuropeanTour.com
