Lee Westwood wins Thailand Golf Championship by one shot
Last updated on .From the section Golf
| Thailand Golf Championship final leaderboard |
|---|
| -8 L Westwood (Eng); -7 M Kaymer (Ger), M Fraser (Aus); -5 T Fleetwood (Eng); -4 S Hend (Aus); Selected others -2 S Garcia (Sp); +4 B Watson (US); +9 D Clarke (NI) |
Lee Westwood captured his 14th title in Asia with a one-shot victory at the Thailand Golf Championship.
The 41-year-old began the day in third, two shots behind leader Marcus Fraser, but set the clubhouse target with seven birdies in a five-under-par 67.
Australian Fraser needed a par to join him on eight-under 280 for a play-off but missed from five feet at the last.
Fraser returned a 70 to finish second with Martin Kaymer, with world number seven Sergio Garcia six back in ninth.
| Thailand Golf Championship winners |
|---|
| 2014: Lee Westwood (Eng) winning score: eight under |
| 2013:Sergio Garcia (Sp) winning score: 22 under |
| 2012:Charl Schwartzel (SA) winning score: 25 under |
| 2011:Lee Westwood (Eng) winning score: 22 under |
It was the 42nd career title for former world number one Westwood, who is now ranked 43rd.
The Englishman claimed the inaugural Thailand tournament in 2011 and this year won the Malaysian Open by seven shots.
"It's a fantastic place to come and play golf," he said.
"There's nothing like finishing a year strongly to give you a bit of momentum for the next year," said Westwood, who recovered from two opening dropped shots at the Amata Spring Country Club and is now returning to his Florida base for the Christmas festivities.
Fraser and compatriot Scott Hend, who was fifth, secured places at next year's Open Championship at St Andrews.
American Jonathan Moore, playing on a sponsor's invitation, holed a 20-foot putt on the 18th to share sixth and will play in The Open for the first time, while India's Anirban Lahiri claimed the other spot for the 144th Championship, which takes place from 16-19 July 2015.
