Westwood wins Indonesian Masters play-off 

ASIAN TOUR NEWS RELEASE

Jakarta: Lee Westwood fended off the spirited challenge from Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat,  defeating him with a birdie at the first play-off hole to win his third CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters today.

The former world number one’s bid to claim his hat-trick of titles at the US$750,000 Asian Tour event was secured when he birdied the play-off 18^th hole as Chapchai, a four-time Asian Tour winner, could only make par.

“There are a lot of good players on the Asian Tour now and the standard is getting higher on this Tour and it’s harder to come over here and win, especially today.

“It’s nice to come back and play with them on their own Tour where they get to show everybody in Asia how good they are. To come to this tournament this week and win it three times is obviously extra special,” said Westwood.

The Englishman appeared to be cruising towards an emphatic victory until two successive bogeys on 16 and 17 blew the title race wide open.

He had the opportunity to win with a birdie at the last but misread the green and was forced to settle for a par and a four-day total of seven-under-par 281.

But after returning to the 18^th hole for extra-time, Westwood made no mistake from the exact spot again.

“It was a tough putt coming into the hill over on 18. I misread it slightly and hit it to about five-feet and missed it. But fortunately in the play-off, I hit it to the exact same spot, I knew the line and it was a nice straight putt for the win.

“I’ve never been beaten around this golf course which is great and this win will give me the confidence for the year ahead,” said Westwood.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4x72) Yardage 7,340

281 - Lee WESTWOOD (ENG) 69-74-65-73, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 68-74-73-66. Westwood defeated Chapchai at the first play-off hole with a birdie

282 - Kalem RICHARDSON (AUS) 75-70-70-67.

283 - Thomas BJORN (DEN) 66-76-71-70.

284 - Thitiphun CHUAYPRAKONG (THA) 71-77-67-69, Y.E. YANG (SKOR) 73-71-69-71.

285 - Angelo QUE (PHI) 72-75-72-66.

286 - Paul PETERSON (USA) 71-73-73-69, Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 73-72-72-69, Berry HENSON (USA) 75-72-69-70.

287 - Matthew GILES (AUS) 74-73-71-69, Adilson DA SILVA (BRA) 73-76-69-69, Lionel WEBER (FRA) 73-74-69-71, Bryce EASTON (RSA) 73-77-65-72.

288 - Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 71-76-71-70, Raphael DE SOUSA (SUI) 72-76-68-72, Yosuke TSUKADA (JPN) 71-71-73-73, Jeunghun WANG (SKOR) 74-71-70-73, Khalin JOSHI (IND) 71-76-68-73.