Lee Westwood claimed his fourth European Tour title of the season and climbs to the top of the Volvo Order of Merit with a comfortable victory in the Volvo Scandinavian Masters. A closing level par 71 for a 14 under par total of 270 at Kungsangen earned him a three-shot victory over New Zealand's Michael Campbell, who finished with a closing 67, with Scotland’s Raymond Russell a stroke further back in third.
The 266,660 euro first prize takes Westwood ahead of Darren Clarke and Ernie Els at the top of the Volvo Order of Merit and continues an extraordinary run of form since the Benson and Hedges International at the Belfry in mid-May. In his last nine tournaments he has finished first, second, fourth, fifth, first, first, 64th, third and now first again.
The victory represents a 13th tournament win in Europe and 22nd worldwide since 1996 when he first tasted success in this tournament in Gothenburg.
Six ahead going into the final round Westwood began in style with a birdie from 50 feet on the first but could only manage pars to the turn.
That allowed the chasing pack to close up with Jamie Spence setting the early target at nine under after a 66 and Russell one of those who got within three shots of the lead when Westwood dropped shots at the 10th and 11th.
But that was as close as anybody got, Westwood steadying the ship before removing all doubt with a birdie on the 17th.
"It's a lot harder leading by a lot than people think," said Westwood who started the final day six shots clear after rounds of 63, 67, 69. "You are expected to win and you have to have a different sort of game plan.
"It was never going to be easy. It's the first time I've won leading from start to finish and it drains you. You are under pressure constantly right from the word go. It's much easier when you are a couple of shots behind and then make a dash for the line on the last day. You really have to have your wits about you when you lead wire to wire. It's very difficult.
"I've had weeks where I've struck the ball better than I have over the last eight weeks but certainly as far as two months of solid golf it's definitely the best form I've shown and it's probably the best form anyone has shown in Europe for a while. You'd have to go a long way to find a bunch of results like mine."
Westwood’s extraordinary sequence of performances has seen him overhaul Clarke and Els at the top of the Volvo Order of Merit .
"The Volvo Order of Merit is the gauge all the pros go by," Westwood added. "It did not look like I was going to be top at any stage in February, but I'm on a good run and I'm just trying to keep it going for the next few weeks.
"Hopefully I can keep going and win some more tournaments and hopefully the Volvo Order of Merit. I'm in a much better position than anybody could have predicted three months ago but there's still a long way to go.
"In three weeks time I could be a million behind but the other side of the coin is that I could be a million ahead. I fully expect the Order of Merit to go right down to the wire this year."
Day 4 Video Highlights
