Golf · European Tour

Flawless Westwood secures Dubai double

Lee Westwood achieved a European Tour double on Sunday by winning the season-ending Dubai World Championship and the money-list title.

An imperious eight-under-par 64 gave him a final 23-under total of 265 and a runaway six-stroke win over fellow Briton Ross McGowan (68).

Westwood's rival for the Race to Dubai money-list, Rory McIlroy (67), was third on 273.

Englishman Westwood picked up 1.77 million euros ($2.37 million) for his double triumph.

McIlroy arrived here leading the money-list but the 20-year-old Northern Irishman was eclipsed by Westwood, who started the week in second position.

'The way I played today under this much pressure and the circumstances of it all was about as good as I've ever played,' Westwood told reporters after a flawless eight-birdie round.

'It's easily the biggest moment in my golfing career so far. I knew what I had to do and to go out and shoot 66-64 at the weekend, making no bogeys, gives me a lot of confidence for the future.

'My commiserations go out to Rory.'

A dejected McIlroy said: 'Every time I looked up at the leaderboard Lee was making birdies.

'He played unbelievable golf and fair play to him. Lee's different class and he deserves to be number one.'

Padraig Harrington finished tied for fourth on 14-under-par.

 
RTÉ.ie Sport: Lee Westwood romped to victory in Dubai and secured the Order of Merit award as a result
Lee Westwood romped to victory in Dubai and secured the Order of Merit award as a result
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