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11/21/09 10:40:00
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11/21 10:36 CST Westwood's 66 maintains 2-shot lead in Dubai
Westwood's 66 maintains 2-shot lead in Dubai
By GRAHAM OTWAY
Associated Press Writer
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Lee Westwood maintained his two-shot lead
at the Dubai World Championships after shooting a 6-under 66 Saturday in the
third round.
The Englishman made six birdies to take his total to 15-under 201. England's
Ross McGowan was second after a 66.
Westwood opened up a five-shot advantage over Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland,
his only remaining rival for the Race to Dubai. Should he win both titles,
Westwood will receive $2.75 million and become Europe's No. 1 player for the
first time since 2000.
The 20-year-old McIlroy had led the European Money List going into the
tournament but fell five shots behind after a 69. He is seeking to become the
youngest player since Seve Ballesteros to in 1979 to be the No. 1 European
player.
Westwood believes his confidence will be high going into the fourth round.
"I looked at the names on the leaderboard," he said, "and I have won 30
tournaments in my career and no one else has closed out as many tournaments as
I have. The Race to Dubai situation is very tense, but I have won it before so
I know how to deal with the pressure."
The 27-year-McGowan is certainly inexperienced, playing in only his second full
season on the European Tour and only recording his first victory at the Madrid
Masters in October.
A run of four birdies from the sixth hole on Dubai's Earth Course took McGowan
briefly into the lead until Westwood had three birdies from the ninth.
McIlroy made six birdies in 15 holes to be one shot behind Westwood, but his
game collapsed. Three errors left him in a tie for third place at 10 under with
Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Sweden's Alexander Noren.
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