Lee Westwood opened up a commanding six-stroke lead by racing to the turn in just 31 strokes at the Dubai World Championship presented by: DP World today.
Trying to become just the third player in European Tour history to win the money list by capturing the final counting event - a double that this year is worth over €1.77million - Westwood grabbed five birdies in the first seven holes.
He had been only two in front of fellow Englishman Ross McGowan overnight, with Race to Dubai rival Rory McIlroy five back in third, but with nine holes to play Westwood was 20 under and next best were McGowan and Australian Geoff Ogilvy on 14 under.
McIlroy, who bogeyed the final three holes of his third round, could only par the first eight and dropped to seventh, but he did then have a hat-trick of birdies and on 13 under shared fourth with Sergio Garcia.
McIlroy had come back to life and made it five birdies in six holes, but Westwood continued on his merry way and with further birdie putts of six feet on the tenth and 12 feet at the 13th he was 22 under and still six in front.
McGowan was second on his own again after picking up shots himself at the 12th and 13th, one in front of McIlroy and Ogilvy.
