Lee Westwood after Monty's crown

Lee Westwood set his sights on knocking Colin Montgomerie off his perch as European No1 after a dramatic win in the TNT Dutch Open in Hilversum on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Englishman came from five shots behind to equal his own course record with a brilliant 63 in the closing round to snatch the £133,000 first prize and end his 10-month winning drought as he finished with a 15-under-par total.

It was Westwood's first victory in Europe this season after an injury-plagued year, but he has far from given up hope of preventing Montgomerie from taking a record seventh consecutive European Order of Merit title.

"I'd love to win it," said Westwood, who was involved in a season-long duel with Montgomerie and stable-mate Darren Clarke in 1998.

The victory pushed Westwood's earnings for the season to £360,000 and moved him up to fourth place in the Order of Merit.

"It's nice to be back in the chase with my first win of the year," he said. "I'd finished fifth, seventh, fifth and then 18th at The Open in my last four events, but there's nothing like a win to shoot you right up there."

He added: "I'm still quite a way behind Colin but there's some big tournaments coming up and back-to-back wins is not out of the question."

It was the Worksop golfer's first win on the European Tour since claiming the Belgacom Open in a play-off last October. He admitted: "I've been playing pretty solidly over the past few weeks but not holing any putts, but today I holed three putts from over 15ft and suddenly I was eight under. I'm not entirely happy with my putting but I'm delighted with the win. It will help get some momentum going - the way I've been playing of late I knew a win was just around the corner."

The win also erased memories of last year's Dutch disappointment when he led the event for the opening two rounds only to be mown down by eventual champion Stephen Leaney of Australia.

Westwood began last year's event with a record 63 and yesterday repeated that feat with a bogey-free display, recording four birdies on the outward nine and a similar number over the closing nine holes.

For Scotland's Gary Orr, who ended a shot back in second place at 14-under-par, it was another bitter pill to swallow. The Weybridge-based golfer finished as bridesmaid for the second time this season and his failure also ended any hopes of an historic Scottish winning treble after Paul Lawrie's Open win and Montgomerie's Loch Lomond triumph.

Orr started the last round two shots clear of the field but could only manage a two- under-par 69, ruining all chances of victory with a three-putt bogey at the 17th.

"I played pretty good but I just made a couple of silly mistakes," said Orr. "I'm not too disappointed, because if someone beats you fair and square, then good luck to them."

Argentina's Eduardo Romero, who shot an eagle and four birdies in his first six holes, went on to take a share of third place at 13-under with young Australian Jarrod Moseley.

Westwood's win takes him to second spot in the European Ryder Cup table.

Express