Westwood bags Indonesia title

Westwood: Gunning for number one spot

Lee Westwood laid down the gauntlet to Luke Donald by completing victory in the Indonesian Open on Sunday.

Westwood started the week as world number two but will only return to the top of the rankings if his fellow Englishman doesn’t win in America.

However, Donald is in position to do just that heading into the final round of the Heritage, leading the PGA Tour event by a stroke, and he will leapfrog both Westwood and current number one Martin Kaymer if he gets the job done.

For the moment, it is Westwood who is destined for top spot after securing victory by three shots following a closing 69 in Jakarta.

Celebrating his 38th birthday, Westwood extended his five-shot overnight lead with a birdie at the opening hole but he gave it straight back on the way to reaching the turn in level par.

South Korean Park Hyun-bin then briefly earned a share of the lead before dropping a shot at the 11th.

Westwood made birdie there and again at the next to ensure he remained two ahead of the charging Thongchai Jaidee, and he held his nerve down the stretch to clinch victory with a 19 under par total.

“It was about coming here this week and trying to win the Indonesian Masters and I’ve done that, he said. “I’ve ticked every box this week so we will have to wait and see what happens.

“It was quite some day. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy with a five-shot lead. Park played well on the front nine and Thongchai was making many birdies.

“But I was experienced enough to know that patience was the key. When you are coming down those last few holes, the only person who knows what to do best is yourself.

“This is my 18th or 19th year playing on Tour and I still love it. I’ve always said that when I stop loving the game, I’ll quit but I still love getting on the aeroplane and playing with some of the best players in the world on some of the greatest golf courses.”

Jaidee fired a round of 65 to take sole possession of second place with countryman Thitiphun Chuayprakong in third alongside the fading Park, Siddikur of Bangladesh and Australian Marcus Both.