ODDSTRACKER: This week we track the rollercoaster ride that was Lee Westwood’s pursuit of glory at the DP World Tour Championship.
Though a winner in Abu Dhabi earlier in the year and a two-time Race To Dubai winner, Lee Westwood went into this year’s DP World Tour Championship as a relatively unfancied 67.0 chance to win the European Tour’s final event of 2020.
He didn’t start too badly either, with an opening 70 leaving him three shots off the early pace set by Frenchmen Victor Perez and 41.0 for victory with BETDAQ.
Another solid second round of 68 was more than acceptable and with a four-shot deficit to Patrick Reed, the Englishman was 31.0.
Westwood was clearly swinging well and he backed up that strong showing on Friday with a second consecutive 68, seeing him just one off the pace at 10 under-par with 18 holes to go, and now just 12.0 to win the tournament.
He didn’t birdie the relatively easy par-five second in the final round, but did open his account a hole later and that saw him as a 17.0 chance and very much still in the hunt.
Although he birdied the eighth, he started the back nine three shots behind Matt Fitzpatrick, and with his fellow Brit seemingly showing no signs of let-up, Westwood was now out to 101.0.
A quick start was needed and he did just that with a birdie three at the tenth, but his progress slowed soon after with three straight pars and then a disastrous bogey on the 14th saw his chances seemingly disappear at 251.0.
A birdie at 16 didn’t look to be enough, but things took a dramatic turn soon after.
Westwood birdied the 18th to get to 15 under-par and when Fitzpatrick bogeyed the par-three 17th, his lead was just one.
Westwood was now just 6.0 and he was hoping for a second straight Fitzpatrick bogey to get him into a play-off.
However, Fitzpatrick held his nerve to par the final hole and win the event for a second time.
Despite not winning the tournament, Westwood’s heroic comeback meant he won the Race To Dubai for a third time.
A more than acceptable consolation prize.
