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Lee Westwood celebrates with caddie Billy Foster after holing the final putt. Picture by Andy Reddington/Getty Images.
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Dubai (November 22): Lee Westwood triumphed at the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World after a nerveless final round 64 secured a six-shot victory and with it The Race to Dubai title for 2009.
Westwood, who led by two shots 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 compatriot 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 number four in the Official World Golf Ranking, matching his highest career position.
Westwood’s win also makes him one of five players to have passed the €19 million mark in European Tour official career earnings, just the fifth player to achieve this, and is the second time he has landed over €3 million in prize money in a single season.
His 64 was also a new course record on the Greg Norman-designed venue. "That’s about as good as I’ve ever played, I’m speechless really,” he said.
“I played great all week. A 66 and 64 over the weekend will take some beating I think. It means so much to me. Without doubt this is the highest point and the best day of my golfing career.
“Obviously I had a high point in 2000 [his first Order of Merit victory] but back then I was young and didn’t really know what it was all about. I’d just really experienced the highs.
“I went through a bit of a low which was well documented and didn’t play so well, dropping out of the top 250 in the world rankings and it’s been a long way back.
“I’m delighted to be stood here and it’s got to be the best day of my golfing career. Hopefully there will be more, maybe a Major in the future. Some of the young players coming through, like Rory, put me under a lot of pressure so it will be tough. I’m going to enjoy the rest of 2009."
McGowan carded a final round 68, including five straight birdies from the 12th, to hold on to second place on 17-under 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 67 and with it third place place on 15-under-par.
"I have no complaints. I gave it my best shot and it's been a great season, but Lee is just in a different class," said McIlroy, who also just missed out on a place in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking despite finishing second in The Race to Dubai.
"Most times coming here leading and then finishing third would be good enough, but even if I'd played well I'm not sure I could have got to 23-under."
Geoff Ogilvy finished in fourth alongside Padraig Harrington on 14-under while Alexander Noren ended in sixth a shot further behind.
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