World number two Lee Westwood continued his love affair with Asia in mid-October by holing a 12-foot birdie putt to beat Liang Wen-chong on the first hole of a play-off for the radical made-for-TV event, dubbed golf's version of the "Amazing Race."
The duo parred the day’s two holes at Caesars Golf in Macau to record an 18-hole total of two-under 71, one ahead of Ian Poulter, who birdied the 356-yard, par-four 18th. US Open champion Rory McIlroy, the world number three, finished six-over after an event that featured 5,600km of flights across the east, north, west and south of China.
Westwood and Liang replayed the 18th for the playoff and both found the rough with their tee-shots. The Chinese number one hit his approach long into the spectators at the back of the green and chipped close before Westwood capped off a long week with a long putt, then celebrated with 10-year-old Hong Kong junior golfer Nathan Han, his caddy for the day.
“I think I do well in Asia because I just adapt well. I adapt to the grasses and I adapt the culture and the food. Playing world golf is all about adapting,” said Westwood, 38, who has twice been world number one in the last 12 months. “I’ve really enjoyed playing with Liang this week. I know him as I’ve played with him many times, but this week we’ve been living in each other’s pockets and spending a lot of time together, so you get to learn a bit more. He’s got a great sense of humour and likes a practical joke. He got me a couple of beauties and I got him back, and I think that has been one of the nicest parts of the week. That’s what drew me to it, really.”
Westwood said the event achieved its ambitions of raising the profile of golf in the country after earlier stopping in Shanghai, Zhengzhou, Beijing, Dalian, Chongqing and Dongguan.
“It has been a bit of a whirlwind tour, very different, very interesting, very tiring. Well worth coming. I think a lot of people have benefited from it. There has been a lot of autograph signing, so I think my right wrist is going to need physio for about a week now,” the Englishman joked. “Hopefully this will add to the growth of golf in this country. It’s all about raising the profile of golf in China. It gets people involved who don’t usually get to see world-class professional golf up close.”
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