Lee Westwood Takes Control in Jakarta

Lee Westwood 

Lee Westwood made his move towards winning the US$750,000 Indonesian Masters, shooting a brilliant six-under-par 66 in the third round on Saturday.

Despite bogeying the last hole, the Englishman still held a commanding five-shot lead on 16-under-par 200 to put himself in prime position of celebrating his 38th birthday with a victory at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

Westwood was the world number one for 17 weeks before being replaced by Martin Kaymer in February and is in the running of regaining the top spot if he wins this week and Luke Donald does not in the United States.

Asian Tour rookie Park Hyun-bin of Korea, who has only one bogey (second round) in his campaign so far, fired a 70 to share second place with Thitiphun Chuayprakong of Thailand on a 205 total in the inaugural event.

Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng fired a 69, courtesy of an eagle three on the 12th hole to lie in fourth place while Bangladeshi Siddikur, Filipino Antonio Lascuna and Thai duo Prom Meesawat and Thongchai Jaidee are a stroke back.

Westwood, who returned Saturday morning to complete two holes of the second round where he took a one-shot lead, said reverting to the conventional putter from the belly putter worked wonders for him as he shot two hat-tricks of birdies from holes one and nine.

“It feels much better using the conventional putter because every decent putt seems to go in and that made me more comfortable. I’ve been in this position before and I’ll try not to get ahead of myself,” said the Englishman, who has won over 30 titles in his stellar career.

Westwood said he was focused on winning the Indonesian Masters. “I’m here to win a tournament. World rankings seem to take care of themselves,” added Westwood, Europe’s number one in 2000 and 2009.

Little known Thitiphun, who won an event in China last week, admitted to feeling nervous but regained confidence when he sank a huge 18 feet birdie putt on the second hole. 

“I kept to my game plan of not being too greedy. You can’t get birdies all the time. My putting has been excellent this week and that has been pulling my game up,” said the 18-year-old.

The ever smiling Thai, who earned his Asian Tour card at Qualifying School in Thailand earlier this year, was relishing the opportunity of playing with Westwood in the final round.

“You won’t get many opportunities of playing with one of the world’s best golfers. I’m really looking forward to it. It won’t be easy to win though because I think I’ll be very nervous,” added the Thai.

Park saved numerous pars in a round of two birdies and was delighted with his putting and accurate iron play.

“My putting has been very solid. I managed to save many pars. I wished I could make more birdies but overall, I’m happy with what I shot,” said the 24-year-old.

Westwwod Leads Indonesia after Round 2

Lee Westwood at Indonesian Masters

World number two Lee Westwood birdied the last hole on Saturday morning to lead the halfway stage of the Indonesian Masters by one.

The Englishman, who returned this morning to finish two holes, posted a six-under-par 66 in a round of eight birdies against two bogeys at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

His two-day total of 10-under-par 134 was a shot better than little known Shaaban Hussin of Malaysia and Korean Park Hyun-bin in the inaugural US$750,000 Asian Tour event.

Thailand’s Thitiphun Chuayprakong fired a 68 to sit in fourth place on 136.

Pariya Junhasavasdikul, who shot the best round of the week so far with a superb 65, was a stroke back with compatriots Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Prayad Marksaeng and Thongchai Jaidee. Englishman Simon Griffiths and Filipino Antonio Lascuna were also tied in fifth place.

Round two was suspended on Friday due to lightning and resumed Saturday morning at 6.30am where a total of 47 players returned to complete their round.

Westwood reverted to the conventional putter from the belly putter which worked wonders for him as he birdied his opening four holes before making the turn in 32.

He added a birdie and bogey on holes 12 and 13 and was on the charge with another birdie on 16 before play was suspended yesterday.

He returned this morning with a par, birdie finish to give himself a fighting chance of winning the Indonesian Masters and regaining the world number one position from Martin Kaymer if Luke Donald does not win in the United States.

“I had an early start this morning and wanted to get going. I finished off nicely. I had a tricky lie on 17 after hitting it in the rough last night and got it on the green and two putted for par. I played some nice shots on the last and hit my approach to four feet which I sank for birdie,” said Westwood, who will celebrate his 38th birthday this Sunday.

“I wasn’t happy with my belly putter in the first round. I putted really poorly and still shot a 68 so that was a positive. But I decided to go back to the short putter and I have a bit of faith in it. I had 26 putts and if you do well from tee to green, you are going to shoot a good score,” added the Englishman.

The halfway cut was set at two-over-par 146 with a total of 68 players making the cut.

Lee Hoping to Master Indonesia

Lee Westwood

Lee Westwood will be hoping to arrive with the famous Green Jacket when he headlines the inaugural US$750,000 Indonesian Masters at Royale Jakarta Golf Club next month as the world number two will be the firm favourite at the Asian Tour tournament from April 21st to 24th, 2011.

While the Westwood has won more than 30 international titles including being crowned Europe’s number one in 2000 and 2009, the 37-year-old is craving for a career first grand slam title. 

“Yes, the main goals for me is to win a major and then hopefully more,” said Westwood, who finished second at the Masters and British Open last season and was tied third at the PGA Championship and British Open in 2009. 

Westwood had an outstanding 2010 season when he won twice around the world and posted seven other top-fives but with victories previously in Malaysia, Japan and Macau, he is confident of challenging for the Indonesian Masters title when he heads to Asia. 

“I am looking forward to it very much. I have been coming to play in Asia for many years now although I have only played in Indonesia once before,” he said. “I’ll be doing everything I can to win”.

“I think everything has improved (in Asia). The golf courses have improved, the standard of Asian players has improved and overall everything is better. Now there are Asian players contending against the rest of the world.” 

Westwood dislodged Tiger Woods from the top spot on the Official World Golf Rankings at the end of 2010 before being overtaken by Germany’s Martin Kaymer last month. He believes an Asian player would occupy the lofty position in the near future. 

“I think Asia has a very a good chance. I mean you have the likes of Noh Seung-yul (the reigning Asian Tour number one) and Ryo Ishikawa and other young players.

The Asian players have a lot of chance and the people in Asia will be watching these young people and if they don’t get to be world number one, then hopefully some of these young kids watching these players will do so one day,” he said. 

“I am sure I will face tough competition (at the Indonesian Masters). I mean the Indonesian players and the Asian Tour players are not going to be easy to play against. It’s not easy to come and play in different places so I have to be in top form.” 

Westwood first visited Indonesia in 2007 for the Indonesia President Invitational where he finished equal third and hopes to soak in more of the country this time around. 

The English star is also hoping his presence in Indonesia will stir up local interest in the game and provide an added boost for the Asian Tour, the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, to grow the game. 

Apart from Westwood, Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, the first man to win three Asian Tour Order of Merit titles, Chapchai Nirat, who holds the world scoring record for 72 holes, and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar will star in the Indonesian Masters. 

“While it would ordinarily be a strong field, I hope I can add something to the tournament and help promote golf in the country,” he said. 

“I am really looking forward to it. I can’t wait.”