Golf-Hot Westwood moves into share of Dubai lead (Reuters)
February 6, 2010
By Bernie McGuire
DUBAI, Feb 6 (Reuters) – Briton Lee Westwood, Thailand’sThongchai Jaidee and Spaniards Miguel Angel Jimenez and AlvaroQuiros shared the lead after the Dubai Desert Classic thirdround on Saturday.
Defending Dubai champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Irelandbirdied the last to end the day in fifth place, two shots adrifton nine under par on the Emirates Club course.
Westwood moved into position for a first win of the season,just over two months since he captured the Dubai WorldChampionship and a second European number one crown.
Westwood, 36, carded a four-under-par 68 that included threebirdies in a five-hole run from the 11th hole.
The six-times European Ryder Cup player was in a similarsituation heading into last week’s final round of the QatarMasters as he bids to add to his 20 European Tour wins.
“I’m in contention and that gets me buzzing and excited,”Westwood told reporters.
“That’s why you practise. You put in the hard work to try toget into contention and win tournaments and prove yourself underpressure.
“Also, my equipment is more in order this week. This timelast week, I was just off the lead but with no driver. So I’mfeeling a lot better.”
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Westwood said he planned to shut out his rivals with a roundlike his closing 64 in November to win by six shots on thenearby Jumeirah Estate.
“I am going to try and do what I did at the Dubai WorldChampionship, go out and shoot the lowest number of the day.”
Jaidee snatched back-to-back birdies at his eighth and ninthholes to establish a three-stroke leading cushion before thecurrent Asian Tour No. 1 stalled over his inward half with ninestraight pars.
“No, I am not disappointed to have finished with theoutright lead as in golf you never know,” he said.
“I made pars and didn’t make bogeys, so that is fine.
“Tomorrow is one more day and I am very close. So maybe Ihave a good chance tomorrow of winning.”
The former Thai paratrooper is no stranger to getting thejump on his rivals as the 40-year old has won 14 times in Asianand twice been crowned Asian number one.
(Editing by Ed Osmond; to query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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