Posted By: Chris Garrett ·
Lee Westwood (FJ ICON, PureTouch Limited) fired a course record 8-under 64 Sunday to run away from the field with a six shot victory at the Dubai World Championship. The 36-year-old shot four rounds in the 60's to finish the week with a 23-under total and lead the way for FJ players who swept the top four positions on the leaderboard. Ross McGowan (FJ ICON style #52070, StaSof glove) carded a final round 68, including five straight birdies from the 12th, to secure second place at 17-under after a sustained charge from Rory McIlroy (FJ ICON MyJoys, PureTouch Limited) who birdied five holes on the back nine to finish third at 15-under. Padraig Harrington (SYNR-G style #53918, PureTouch Limited) finished in a tie for fourth.
Westwood also secured the season-long Race to Dubai and recognition as the European Number One for the second time in his career. He came to the final event trailing Rory McIlroy. Westwood's victory was the 32nd victory worldwide as a professional and his second victory on The European Tour this season. It also moves Westwood up to World Number Four in the Official World Golf Rankings, matching his highest career position.
“I’m delighted to be standing here and it’s got to be the best day of my golfing career. I think that's about as good as I've ever played under this pressure," said Westwood.
“Hopefully there will be more, maybe a Major in the future. Some of the young players coming through, like Rory McIlroy, put me under a lot of pressure so it will be tough. I’m going to enjoy the rest of 2009.”
Posted By: Chris Garrett ·
After 50 events and 382 days, the European Tour's Race to Dubai culminates this week with the top 58 players competing in the Dubai World Championship on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. At stake is recognition as Europe's number one golfer of 2009 and, of the three players who can win the season-long Race by winning the World Championship, two of those are FootJoy players. Another can triumph with a win and some help.
Leading the way following his runner-up finish last week, is 20-year-old Rory McIlroy (FJ ICON). McIlroy burst on the scene as a Tour rookie this year and sent notice he would be a force to be reckoned with when he finished tied for second in his first professional event at the UBS Hong Kong Open. In fact, he recorded four top 10's in his first six events, none more important than his dramatic wire-to-wire victory at the Dubai Desert Classic. Overall, he's amassed 13 top 10 finishes this year - including six in his last seven events - to claim the top spot in the Race to Dubai with one event remaining. Might McIlroy have the edge considering he is sponsored by the resort where the tournament will be contested?
Rory has been battling another FJ player for the top spot in the Race most of the year and narrowly passed him just last week. However, Lee Westwood's (FJ ICON, PureTouch Limited glove) pursuit of a second Order of Merit title remains firmly in his hands as a victory in Dubai will give him the crown. The 36-year old ended a two-year winless streak just last month with his win at the Portugal Masters and has contended at several other events throughout the year. In fact, after getting off to a fairly slow start, Lee has reeled off an incredible 10 top 10 finishes over his last 12 tournaments, including five consecutive top 10's twice!
Another FJ player, Ross Fisher (FJ ICON) is also in position to win the Race to Dubai if he wins the World Championship and McIlroy and Westwood finish worse than second place. Fisher won the inaugural Volvo World Match Play title a few weeks ago in a grueling 36-hole final to collect the third European Tour win of his career. He has proven himself capable of challenging at the very highest level by leading all four Major Championships at one stage in 2009.
So after all the dust settles on Sunday, do you think McIlroy, Westwood or Fisher will be standing tall as the 2009 Race to Dubai Champion?