Inexperience cost Rory, says joyful Westwood

LEE WESTWOOD believes Rory McIlroy was the author of his own downfall in the final week of their European money list battle.

The mistake was not in any of the shots the 20-year-old played, but what he said after they had gone head-to-head in the first round at the deciding Dubai World Championship.

McIlroy stated publicly that he was glad the two of them were not paired in the second round because then he could concentrate on his own game more.

“It was obviously a massive feather in my cap,” said Westwood, who regained the Order of Merit crown he last held in 2000.

“There’s nothing worse to say than that if you’re Rory – and he will learn from that – and there’s nothing better for me than a competitor to say they are glad they are not playing with me. I read it in the press. I wouldn’t have said it, but I’ve been on Tour 16 years and he’s been on Tour three. Sometimes what you say off the golf course and the mind games you play are as important as the pressure you can put on people on the course.”

Westwood produced a stunning 23-under-par display to take the €826,669 tournament first prize and €991,992. money list bonus, a European Tour record €1.8m for one week’s work.

Westwood looked in a class of his own storming his way to a new course record of an eight under par 64 to win with a 23-under par tally on the Earth Course.

The 39-year old Westwood picked off eight birdies in a second straight bogey-free round to claim his massive windfall.

The English began the week trailing €128,000 behind McIlroy and won a second European Tour Number One crown by €627,742.

He then had some words of comfort for McIlroy, a former Irish Examiner National Junior Sports star, ended his second full season as Order of Merit runner up with €3,610,020.

Westwood said: “Rory’s had a fantastic year, shown a lot of consistency and keeps putting himself in the frame, week-in, week-out. I played with him the first day, and he played great. I was playing eight out of 10, nine out of 10 against him, and he battled away and hung in there.

“So I mean, what’s he got going for him? 20 years of age. Millionaire already. Hits it miles. Nice-looking girlfriend. Drive a Lamborghini. Yeah, it’s hard, isn’t it?”

McIlroy admitted the defeat was the biggest disappointment of his short professional career with much of the damage done in a disastrous finish to his round on Saturday when he bogeyed his closing three holes

The Down native remained in first gear in the final round with eight straight pars, and one stage dropping 10 shots adrift of Westwood.

But he then started to climb back up the board with three birdies in succession from the ninth hole before moving into third place with birdies at 13, 14 and 17.

“There was a lot of frustration in the first few holes because I wanted to get off to a really good start but I wasn’t able to,” he said.

“Then I decided I would enjoy the last few holes, and play with a smile on my face.

“When you do that, you become a lot freer nd I was able to make a few birdies.

“But Lee just played fantastic golf. He was in a different class. He deserves the title.

“He’s been through the highs and lows of his game, and he’s back to top five in the world, so he deserves all the credit he’s going to get.”

But despite McIlroy’s disappointment he heads to this week’s World Cup of Golf in China proud of his achievements.

“I am definitely a better player now than I was at the start of the year, and I hope I’m a better player this time next year than I am now,” he said.

“I like to respond to the pressure of knowing what I need to do

“Obviously Lee’s done a bit better than me this week but I’ve given it a really good shot, and it’s been great knowing every day you have to go out and shoot a good score. I nearly did yesterday I nearly did today.”

Pádraig Harrington, who finished one shot adrift of McIlroy, ended his season 15th on the Race to Dubai money list while Graeme McDowell, who carded a closing day 68, was credited with 33rd place.

Peter Lawrie began and ended the week in 43rd after ending with a 70 for a one under par total. Ballyclare’s Gareth Maybin can be pleased with his first season in ending in 53rd spot following a last day 70 for a four under par score while Damien McGrane dropped two places to 60th in signing for a 71 and a three over par score.

Meanwhile Shane Lowry capped his short six months in the pro ranks with a stunning third place in the Dunlop Phoenix Open in Japan. Lowry also recorded his first top-10 since turning pro in carding a closing round 67 to finish tied in third with Japan’s Hirofumi Miyase on seven under par.

The 22-year old Esker Hills golfer earned€87,700 and is nearly €50,000 more than his previous best pay out of €39,000 in finishing 28th in last fortnight’s WGC-HSBC Champions event. Italian sensation Edoardo Molinari won the event in defeating 2008 European No. 1 Robert Karlsson in a play-off at the second extra hole after both players ended regulation play tied at 13-under par.