Thursday, September 2, 2010

You would think picking up a cheque for $2.75 million and being crowned European No.1 would be the summit of a successful season.

For many a golfer it would be - but not Lee Westwood.

The Englishman has arguably been the most consistent performer in world golf this year, and tees it up at the Dubai World Championship second in the Race to Dubai.

Victory on the Earth course, at Jumeirah Golf Estates, would make him Europe’s best for the second time in nine years.

But, while admitting winning the Race would be a nice bonus, the world No.5 claims it’s Majors, not money, that now matter to him.

“I am not going to kid you, winning the Order of Merit (the Race to Dubai) would mean a lot,” Westwood said.

“But since the US PGA finished, all of my thoughts on working on my game have been geared towards next April at Augusta (for the Masters), because I’ve already won an Order of Merit (back in 2000).

“Majors are the one thing I haven’t won and they are the thing I’m gearing my game towards now.”

Indeed, as far as Westwood is concerned the only setback he has suffered this year was not making the most of a great opportunity to win the Open  
at Turnberry.

The 36-year-old three-putted on the final green when a regulation two would have earned him a play-off place; a birdie would have bagged him that elusive big title. And a reflective Westwood added: “My goal at the start of the year was to play better in the Majors and World Golf Championships and contend in them, and I gave myself a good chance at winning the odd one and probably should have won one (The Open).

“You have to occasionally accept that you’re not going to win, but be happy with your lot.

“So as far as I’m concerned it’s been a pretty successful year no matter what happens.”

That’s not to say Race victory at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Sunday isn’t a big aim. And even though he is euros128,173 behind current leader Rory McIlroy, neither is it out of the question.

Having come back from a similar position nine years ago Westwood is confident he can do the same again.

“It’s by no means over,” he said.”Back in 2000 I was behind going into the last event. So, I’ve done it before and can do it again.”

Leading before last week’s Hong Kong Open, a poor showing allowed McIlroy to leapfrog Westwood. But the Englishman has been around long enough to not let one bad week affect him in his bid to conquer Earth.

“Last week’s irrelevant. You just have to take each week individually. After 16 years out here I’ve sort of managed to be able to block average weeks out and move on.”

But he knows there’s little margin for error this week.

“You’re going to be hitting a lot longer clubs in,” he said. “The greens from what I hear are large, but they have sections where there are dead elephants in some of them, so it’s going  to be a premium on hitting iron shots close.”