Lee Westwood bags Thailand title

• Englishman ends season in style
• Pips Kaymer and Fraser to Thailand title
• Win is the 42nd of his professional career
• ‘There’s nothing like finishing a year strongly’

Lee Westwood has bagged the 42nd professional victory of his career, holding off Martin Kaymer and Marcus Fraser to win the Thailand Golf Championship by a shot.

Westwood, 41, began the final day two shots adrift of 54-hole leader Fraser but carded seven birdies en route to a five-under 67. That was enough to see the former world No.1 over the line and secure him his 14th victory in Asia.

“There’s nothing like finishing a year strongly to give you a bit of momentum for the next year,” said the nine-time Ryder Cup player.

Westwood, who captured the inaugural Thailand tournament in 2011 and this year won the Malaysian Open by seven shots, also picked up £600,000 in prize money.

“It’s been a good last day of school,” he added.

“It was a pretty flawless round.” – Branden Grace

Meanwhile, Branden Grace secured his fifth European Tour victory of his career at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in his native South Africa.

The 26-year-old led from start to finish and ultimately won by seven shots from compatriot and former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen.

“It’s special to win it wire-to-wire, more so because it’s in front of a local crowd,” said Grace after closing with a 68. “It was a pretty flawless round today and the perfect way to finish off an incredible tournament – a great week in the office. It’s been a long year, a hard, year but now it’s a fairytale ending just before Christmas.”

Scotland’s David Drysdale finished in a tie for sixth on nine-under-par, just a matter of weeks after retaining his European Tour card in dramatic fashion at the final event of the 2014 season, the Perth International.

Lee Westwood :: A major contender in 2015?

Having ended 2014 on a high note, could next year be the season that Lee Westwood finally lands his first-ever major championship? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor