World No 1 Westwood confident he can now end major drought

The world No 1 capped an excellent year by winning the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa where his victory margin was eight strokes over a high-profile field Sun City field.

His closest challenger was South African Tim Clark, with the likes of Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Retief Goosen and Ernie Els all failing to match him or even come close.

Westwood, who took over as the top-ranked golfer from Tiger Woods at the end of October, is still searching for that elusive first major win.

He came extremely close this season, finishing second at both the Masters and The Open, and is desperate to end his drought. "It's obviously my No 1 target now because I've never won one," said Westwood, who also came third at the 2008 US Open and 2009 PGA Championship.

"I've come very close over the last couple of years but careers are defined by major championships, so I'd obviously like to win a major championship. I try to focus on it, but without trying to put too much pressure on myself."

The 37-year-old walked away with a 792,125 first prize from the South African event, where 12-players compete each year for the huge pay-day.

Westwood says that holding the world No 1 spot has also brought with it some additional confidence. "There's no doubt about it, being No 1 gives you a massive boost of confidence.

"To look at the world rankings and then to turn up at a tournament and know that as far as the world rankings are concerned, there's nobody better there at the tournament.

"If you play your best, you should certainly contend that week, if not win it."

Victory for the Worksop golfer was surprisingly his first taste of victory in a memorable 2011 and he celebrated the title by chipping in for birdie at the last.

"Being No 1 is still something I'm trying to come to terms with. There's expectation whenever you turn up at tournaments and you have to fulfil that. But since I've become No 1, I've finished second, third and first. So I think I can cope with it."

Graeme McDowell is up to a career-high seventh in the world after his amazing victory over Tiger Woods in California.

For the first time in his career Woods lost a four-shot lead, being beaten in a play-off by the Northern Irishman at the Chevron World Challenge.

Woods began the day with a four-shot lead, but suffered his first bad round, highlighted by a calamitous double-bogey on the 13th, to sign for a 73.

That gave McDowell his chance as he overcame two bogeys with five birdies, the last on the 18th, to force a play-off. And he won that with another birdie putt on the 18th, leaving Woods without a title since he won the Australian Masters a year ago.

Paul Casey went round in 69 to hold on to third place, ahead of Rory McIlroy, who shared fourth place with Hunter Mahan.

Leading world rankings: 1 L Westwood 9.24pts, 2 T Woods 8.44, 3 M Kaymer 7.59, 4 P Mickelson 7.16, 5 J Furyk 6.55, 6 S Stricker 6.52, 7 G McDowell 6.36, 8 P Casey 6.25, 9 L Donald 5.87, 10 I Poulter 5.81, 11 R McIlroy 5.68, 12 E Els 5.06, 13 M Kuchar 4.97, 14 D Johnson 4.76, 15 F Molinari 4.54, 16 R Karlsson 4.47, 17 R Goosen 4.28, 18 H Mahan 4.26, 19 E Molinari 4.18, 20 Z Johnson 3.83.

Other leading Europeans: 23 P Harrington, 25 MA Jimenez, 29 J Rose, 33 R Fisher, 42 P Hanson, 48 A Quiros, 50 M Laird, 51 H Stenson, 61 M Manassero, 64 S Dyson, 69 A Hansen, 71 R Davies, 72 F Andersson Hed, 73 S Garcia, 76 D Willett, 77 B Davis, 81 S Kjeldsen, 87 O Wilson, 90 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, 91 S Gallacher, 92 D Horsey, 95 G Bourdy, 96 R Jacquelin, 99 J Donaldson.