ST ANDREWS, Scotland, (Reuters) – Lee Westwood missed the chance to replace Tiger Woods as world number one as Germany’s Martin Kaymer came through to win the Dunhill Links Championship yesterday.
Kaymer fired a six-under-par 66 to claim his third European Tour title in a row while Ryder Cup colleague Westwood, needing a top-two finish to end the Woods reign which now stretches to 279 consecutive weeks, struggled to a 73 and finished tied 11th.
Westwood troubled by a calf problem during the tournament said he planned to take about a month off in order to let the injured muscle fully heal.
The last European to win three PGA Tour events in a row was former world number one Nick Faldo in 1989 and Kaymer’s triumph lifted him to fourth in the world rankings.
He birdied the closing two holes to finish three strokes clear of Briton Danny Willett with overnight leader John Parry third after a double-bogey at the 14th derailed his title bid.
Defending champion Simon Dyson closed with a 66 and a share of fifth place.
