Lee Westwood has been crowned European Tour No 1 for the third time, more than two decades after he first topped the Order of Merit.
A runner-up finish in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai over the weekend proved enough for the veteran Englishman to secure the title, known as the Race to Dubai since he first won it in 2009 – and with it the coveted Harry Vardon trophy. Westwood edged tournament winner Matthew Fitzpatrick by just 27.8 points to become the oldest player to win the season-long race at 47 years, seven months and 20 days.
The former World No 1 was understandably emotional as he reflected on his storied career, which had numerous highs along with a fair share of lows.
“The motivation’s never changed, really. I get to get up each day and do the job I love. I’ve always wanted to be a golfer, and I don’t want it to end,” said Westwood, who won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January for his 25th European Tour title.
“So I’m prepared to keep working hard and put myself in the line of fire and try and get into contention in tournaments. It’s where I’m most comfortable and what I love doing,” he added.
Westwood noted that his three merit titles were all very different. “I guess 2000, sort of I was winning a lot, but I was still like up-and-coming. It was only my seventh year on tour.
“2009, I was honing in on the best player in the world spot and I needed to win here to win The Race to Dubai, and I managed to do that.
“And then this one, I’m kind of the more mature player on the European Tour now. It wasn’t something I set out to do at the start of the year but it shows the consistency I’ve shown.”
Westwood paid tribute to the tournament physio team for helping him manage a back injury, as well as his fiancee Helen Storey for her calming influence while caddying for him in Dubai.
“She’s a calming influence on me. You know, we talk about things away from golf … that’s kind of our thing. We keep me focusing on golf as little as possible, really, especially when I’m out on the golf course,” said the two-time Malaysian Open winner.
Westwood also becomes only the fifth player to have won the European Tour merit title three times or more, joining Colin Montgomerie (eight – 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005), Seve Ballesteros (six – 1976, 1977, 1978, 1986, 1988, 1991), Sandy Lyle (three – 1979, 1980, 1985) and Rory McIlroy (three – 2012, 2014, 2015).
