Westwood on top after 5th win of season

Lee Westwood's comfortable Belgian Open win on Sunday, to clinch his fifth European Tour title of the year, took the Englishman back to the top of Europe's rankings.

In 1998, Westwood needed a playoff to secure victory at Knokke, but once he went ahead early in the final round, his 14th tour success was never in doubt.

A closing six-under-par 65 for an 18-under-par 266 left him four shots ahead of veteran Argentine Eduardo Romero.

Westwood also went top of Europe's Ryder Cup qualifying table after picking up the $142,000 first prize and 166,660 Cup points, the first European to take the lion's share of points since qualifying began three tournaments ago.

"It's nice to be up there but there are still some very big tournaments to come which can change things," said Westwood, "especially with the world championships being so loaded.

"I'm just focusing on one round, one shot, at a time and the work I've done with my coach this week has been a great help. There's no magic pill you can take, just work, and it can take me to the next level."

Romero and Retief Goosen of South Africa had won the last two tournaments, and it was the 46-year-old Romero who again showed top form as he finished closest to Westwood with a final-round 66.

Lee Westwood shows off the Belgacom Open trophies. Allsport.

That put the Cordoban a stroke ahead of Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who led Westwood by a stroke going into the final round, and American Tom Gillis, the second round front-runner.

Two Scots finished a further stroke back, Dean Robertson and Alastair Forsyth, whose pitch-in eagle on the 17th almost certainly sealed Europe's rookie of the year title.

Harrington, who had dropped a shot on the last in the third round to boost Westwood's chances, made the Englishman's task easier by dropping shots at the first and third holes.

That took Westwood to the top of the leaderboard with the Dane Soren Hansen, who had shared second place with him overnight.

While Westwood flourished and extended the lead with four birdies in seven holes around the turn, Hansen faded and had to settle for a share of seventh place.

Hansen's 273 earned him a spot in the next event, the German Masters, and continued his bid to play in the lucrative end-of-season Volvo Masters.

Westwood's aim is a maiden European number one title at the end of the season, and with just three events to go for the major players in Europe, the 27-year-old Englishman is well set.

His Belgian win took him 42,000 pounds ($61,560) ahead of Northern Irishman Darren Clarke, who missed the cut and will not play next week's German Masters while his wife gives birth to their second child.

Romero's untarnished finale was another tribute to his re-found ability to focus after taking up yoga.

"Taking up yoga 18 months ago was the best thing I've ever done and my confidence, too, has been sky-high since winning in Switzerland," he said. "Every time I look at the cup it looks as big as a football."

Colin Montgomerie's chances of an eighth European number one honour dwindled further as he finished 12 strokes behind Westwood.

Westwood is now within one win of equalling the record of six titles on the European Tour in a season achieved by Severiano Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Montgomerie.

"That's a nice goal," added Westwood. "They don't come much better than Seve when he was in his prime."

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