ON TOUR

ON
TOUR

WESTWOOD claims
second Thailand Golf
Championship
Lee Westwood claimed a unique Thailand Golf Championship
double when he staged a fabulous fight back with a final round fiveunder-par
67 to win the US$1 million Asian Tour event on Sunday.
The former world number one won the inaugural edition in 2011 and
made it another victory to remember by signing off with a four-day
total of eight-under-par 280 at the Amata Spring Country Club.
Overnight leader Marcus Fraser of Australia and Germany’s Martin
Kaymer had their chances to force extra-time with Westwood but fell
just short on the 72nd hole and settled for a share of second place
one shot behind.
India’s Anirban Lahiri did not get the win he wanted as he signed
off with a 73 to share sixth place with Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee
and American Jonathan Moore at the Thai showpiece. The 27-yearold,
however, earned a well-deserved place at the 144th Open
at St. Andrews in 2015 as one of the top four players who were not
otherwise exempted from the world’s oldest Major.
Westwood was delighted with his win as he overcame intense
pressure to lift the prestigious title again. ‘When I won the Thailand
Golf Championship in 2011, I had a pretty big lead. But this win is
obviously very special as it was a very tight day out there and I
didn’t get off to the best of starts and I had lots of work to do,’ said
Westwood.
Starting the round two shots back of Fraser, Westwood seemed
to have fallen out of the equation when he opened with two
successive bogeys. But the Englishman showed his mettle with a
stunning comeback where he fired four straight birdies starting from
the par-four sixth hole. He continued his amazing birdie blitz by
marking his card with more red numbers on holes 11, 14 and 15 to
seal his second title.
‘My caddy, Billy told me there were opportunities to pick some
shots up in the middle of the round after I made those two bogeys.
I did that and didn’t drop any more shots and gave myself lots of
chances,’ said Westwood.
‘This is my last event of the year and it’s nice to finish with a win and
go into Christmas and start the New Year with confidence. I know
what I’ve got to work on and I’ll be doing that over the next six
weeks before the season starts again,’ added the Englishman.

STENSON eyes Major after
DP World Tour Championship
double
Henrik Stenson is eyeing a first Major Championship in 2015 after defending a title for the first time in his career at the
DP World Tour Championship. The Swede carded a closing 70 at Jumeirah Golf Estates to finish 16-under-par, two shots
ahead of World Number One Rory McIlroy and fellow Ryder Cuppers Justin Rose and Victor Dubuisson. Victory also
assured him of second spot behind McIlroy in the Race to Dubai and second in the world rankings: ‘It would be nice
to have been ranked the world’s best at some point,’ said Stenson. ‘But if I had the choice I would go for a Major
Championship so I am going to try and be in good shape for them next year.’
Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello was seemingly in control on the 16th tee before successive double-bogeys on the par four
and par three 17th when he found water on both occasions. McIlroy and Rose closed on 14-under after agonisingly
missing near-identical putts for birdie on 18. Stenson was on the same number after 16 holes before a brilliant iron at the
par three left a tap-in birdie and he sealed victory in style with a fine birdie four at the last.
‘It feels great,’ added the 38-year-old. ‘I’m exhausted to say the least. It was hot out there and tricky on the back
nine. I did not play my best and had a shocking hole on 11 but I did not give up. I just had to dig in there and wait for
something to happen. I had a couple of close calls this year to get my win and it was not to be. It’s been close but
eventually you get something if you stick around and I surely did that.’
McIlroy already had the Race to Dubai title sewn up but was made to rue missed opportunities as he looked in vain for a
perfect finish to an incredible season: ‘It seemed like no-one took it by the scruff of the neck,’ said the Northern Irishman.
‘I thought if I could post 16-under I might have a chance. I just did not play well enough to win this week.’

DUBUISSON to defend
Turkish Airlines Open title
Ryder Cup hero Victor Dubuisson will defend his Turkish Airlines Open from
November 13-16, when the European Tour’s hottest new event returns to the
stunning Montgomerie Maxx Royal.
Being held for the second year in Turkey’s Antalya region, the tournament,
which offers a prize fund of $7m, is the penultimate event of the European
Tour’s lucrative Final Series.
Frenchman Dubuisson will be joined by fellow 2014 Ryder Cup victors Lee
Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer for what is set to be one of the
year’s strongest fields.
Two-time Major Champion John Daly will also compete alongside
Montgomerie Maxx Royal golf course designer and eight-time European Tour
Order of Merit victor Colin Montgomerie.
Of the positive effect the event has had on Turkish golf, he said: “All of the
organisations involved in the staging of this wonderful tournament have
contributed to the recognition of not only Belek and Antalya but also the
whole of Turkey. Everyone, including European Tour CEO George O’Grady,
applauded last year’s tournament and we are again working hard to
organise a perfect event with the help of our sponsors, particularly Turkish
Airlines and Maxx Royal. The fact that we have so many of Europe’s victorious
Ryder Cup players attending makes the tournament even more attractive.”
Mehmet Ersoy, CEO of the ETStur, Maxx Royal Hotels and Voyage Hotels said
his organization was very proud to host one of golf’s most prestigious events
for the second time.
Outlining improvements to both course and clubhouse ahead of the 2014
tournament, he commented: “We had a flawless tournament after nine
months of hard work last year and we are looking forward to proving the
quality of the Montgomerie Maxx Royal one more time to our distinguished
guests from different countries and the world’s best golfers.”
With just under a month until play commences, the Director of Maxx Royal
Golf Course, emphasized that the course is in immaculate condition,
including an extension of the 3rd hole to 365m. “We have completed all
of the preparations on the course and in the clubhouse. There is only the
tournament left itself.”