Westwood widens gap

Lee Westwood increased his lead to three the moment he started his final round in the Dubai World Championship today and at the moment has stretched that lead to six.

Winning the title would also make Westwood this season’s European Tour number one and saving par from eight feet on the 454-yard first was enough as playing partner Ross McGowan three-putted from off the green.

In terms of the Order of Merit it was Rory McIlroy who was the danger to Westwood, but the 20-year-old from Northern Ireland, who bogeyed the last three holes of his third round to fall from joint leader into a tie for third five strokes back, could only par the first four holes.

McIlroy could do no better than pars at the first six, but Westwood moved four clear by finding the target again from more than 30 feet - up and over another ridge - at the third.

McIlroy was down to seventh and McGowan was joined in second place when Garcia had a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth.

They were 16 under par and 13 under respectively, while McIlroy had slipped into a tie for fifth on 10 under one behind Padraig Harrington and Geoff Ogilvy.

It was fast turning into a one-man show as Westwood, his putter red hot, holed from 10 feet on the fifth and 20 feet at the next.

Four under for the round already he was 19 under and six clear of McGowan, Garcia and Ogilvy.