Westwood just gets the better of Donald in fight to be No 1

Worksop’s Lee Westwood won the Indonesian Masters in Jakarta on the Asian Tour and knew he would reclaim his place at the top of the rankings, provided Luke Donald failed to win The Heritage tournament in South Carolina, on the US PGA Tour. Donald – who had led after three rounds – threatened to snatch the honour away as he went into a sudden-death play-off with Brandt Snedeker, who had closed with a 64. But battling Donald lost at the third extra hole. Both Englishmenmen needed a victory at their respective tournaments to supplant Germany’s Martin Kaymer as world No 1 – with Donald’s bid in the US carrying more ranking points – and it said much about their talent and character that they had each put themselves in a position to do so. That they woke up this morning as the world’s No 1 and 2 golfers – irrespective of the order – illustrates the strength of English golf at the moment. It is the first time Englishmen have occupied the top two placings in the world rankings. The only question mark remains the fact that neither has won a major championship, though both have gone close over the last two years. It also raises the issue of the merits of a ranking system that allows players to reach the pinnacle without having claimed the game’s biggest prizes. The rankings reflect results over the last two years and both men have been in blistering form. Westwood, who turned 38 yesterday, has won five times across the world and finished in the top three in major championships five times since 2008, while Donald, 33, finished fourth at the Masters two weeks ago and was also in imperious form when he claimed the WGC Accenture Mathplay title – one of the four tournaments on the rung below the majors – in Arizona in February. Westwood won in Jakarta nearly 12 hours before Donald teed off protecting a one-stroke lead over Jim Furyk at Hilton Head. Last November Westwood became the first Englishman since Sir Nick Faldo to claim the top spot in the rankings, so ending Tiger Woods’s five-year stay at the summit. Westwood added a victory in South Africa as he held onto pole position for 17 weeks before US PGA champion Kaymer succeeded him after reaching the Accenture Matchplay final, where he was comprehensively beaten by Donald. And after marking his birthday with a final-round 69 that saw him clinch the Indonesian Masters title by three strokes from Thongchai Jaidee, he was relaxed over his possible return to the No 1 spot. “It was about coming here this week and trying to win the Indonesian Masters and I’ve done that,” he said. “I’ve ticked every box this week so we will have to wait and see what happens.” Westwood was even par for the day at the turn before a birdie at the 11th saw him gain some forward momentum. “Yeah, that was probably the hardest putt I had all day,” he said. “It was 15 feet and had a three feet break on it. I birdied the next with two good shots and played solidly. I managed to pick up a few shots and birdied the 16th from four feet. I was quite comfortable after that.” Starting the day holding a five-shot lead, Westwood carded four birdies and one bogey at Royale Jakarta Golf Club to finish on 19 under par, comfortably clear of Jaidee. The Thai shot a superb 65 to finish at 16 under while Marcus Both, Siddikur, Park Hyun-bin and Thithphun Chuayprakong tied for third on 13 under. Donald remained at the head of affairs at The Heritage as he continued his pursuit of the No 1 ranking. The No 3 was tied for the lead with two to play after Snedeker’s 64 had seen him charge through the field and he parred the last couple to get into a play-off. Donald had made a tap-in birdie on the par-five second – a hole on which he acknowledges he has struggled this week, taking seven on Saturday. He gave the shot straight back after driving into a bunker on the next but bounced back with two more birdies in succession to lead outright on 13 under having played six holes. The US-based Hertfordshire-born golfer then dropped out of the lead when he bogeyed seven and 10, but a birdie on the par four 13th moved him back to one under for the day and into a tie for the lead. His nearest pursuer then was Ricky Barnes after the young American birdied four of the first five holes to reach 12 under, having recorded back-to-back 67s on days two and three. Barnes had the chance to move level with Donald but missed a short birdie putt at the eighth. Compatriot Snedeker, meanwhile, recorded three birdies in a row from the second and six in total on the front nine as he surged to 11 under. Yet another birdie followed on the 12th and, though he immediately blotted his copybook with a five at the par-four 13th, he birdied the 18th to post the leading score. Furyk, Tim Herron and Tommy Gainey were also in the mix until the latter stages. nick.westby@ypn.co.uk