Westwood wins HSBC to claim titles across four decades
(Abu Dhabi, UAE:) Lee Westwood has now joined an elite European Tour club in becoming only the third player to win Tour titles across four decades.
Westwood’s two-shot Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship success has seen the 46-year-old English golfer joining Des Smyth and Mark McNulty as the only golfers in European Tour history to win over four decades.
Lee Westwood (Credit: European Tour)
Westwood shut-out a rampaging Tommy Fleetwood and Victor Perez, who both fired final rounds of 9-under 63, with a powerhouse last day 67 to win by two-shots with a 19-under par tally in the UAE capital.
“It’s been a good week,” he said smiling. “I can’t believe I’m so old. It’s getting harder to win.”
The win is Westwood’s 44th worldwide and his 25th on the European Tour.
Westwood claimed his first Tour win in 1996, a 10th in 2000, a 21st in 2011 and now matching Smyth and McNulty as we enter a new decade.
Smyth first tasted Tour success in 1979, a second win in 1980, a seventh in 1993 and an eighth and last Tour win in 2001.
The Zimbawean-born McNulty, who now calls Ireland home, captured the first of 16 Tour wins in 1979, a second in 1980, a ninth in 1990 and then a 16th and final Tour event in 2001.
Westwood will jump from 63rd to 29th on the World Rankings with the assurance of an 18th Masters appearance and his first Augusta National tee time since 2017.
Westwood has a stellar record at Augusta, finishing in the top-10 six times with two-runner up finishes in 2010 and 2016.
He will also be eligible for the WGC – Mexico Championship and now takes a big step up the European Tour Ryder Cup rankings.
“I’m not sure I can take any more Ryder Cups. Played ten, and it was good watching the lads last time.”
“But you know, obviously if there’s a chance of that, then I might as well go for it. It’s nice just to come out and keep proving that you’ve still got it.”
Scott Hend topped the Australians in the field this week finishing in a share of 17th at 11-under with Zach Murray another shot back in equal 21st.
Wade Ormsby (T51), Jason Scrivener (T59) and Lucas Herbert (T67) all made it through to the weekend.
