Lee Westwood is set to end the year on a winning note and storm back into No. 2 in the world after muscling his way to a massive 11-stroke lead early on day two of the Thailand Golf Championship.
Westwood again was in a class of his own adding a day two 64 to a career best of 60 the Englishman posted on day one around the Amata Spring Country Club course.
Weswood actually ended his round at lunch 14 shots clear before Masters champion, Charl Schwartzel (66) and American Michael Thompson (66) ranked 181st in the world, moved into a share of second place on nine under par.
The 38-year old Westwood is yet to drop a stroke after 36 holes and managed to keep his card clean of any bogeys in holing a testing par putt at his final hole on day two.
Lee Westwood 11 shots clear of his nearest rival after two rounds in Thailand. (Photo - Thanks to Asian Tour).
Westwood began the second leading by 10 heading into the second round of the $US 1m event and headed off to lunch and an afternoon workout in the gym at 20-under par and leading by 14.
“It’s strange really to be leading by 14 as today almost felt better than yesterday,” he said.
“It was quite tough out there as the scoring is pretty tricky so a 64 is a really good score.
“Not that 60 wasn’t a good score yesterday! I hit a lot of good shots again today and hit it close.
“So I’m delighted with two days work.”
Victory would be Westwood’s second in three events after capturing the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa and take the current World No. 3 back into No. 2 and push the absent Rory McIlroy to No. 3.
It would also be Westwood’s fourth win this year and take his tally of professional career victories to 37.
Westwood’s previous lowest victory-winning opening 36-hole low to par was 12-under in capturing the 1997 Volvo Masters.
But when asked if Westwood was thinking of a score he might shoot after posting a course record 60, he admitted he was still more focussed on ending the year on a winning note.
“I am still trying to play the same and try to win the tournament,” he said.
“I’ll try to keep the lead irrelevant and keep on playing as I’ve been playing.
“ I’m playing pretty well and I want to maintain that and keep making birdies and no bogeys.
“The most satisfying shot of the day was making that eight or nine footer I holed at the last to keep the bogey off the card the last two days.
“All year, what’s been lacking has been on the greens, my putting.
“I’ve hit it great so far this week but to get to 20 under par, you’ve got to hole a few and I’ve been working on it and hopefully I can keep doing that for the next few years.”
Westwood’s long-time caddy, Billy Foster is in absolute awe of the two-round effort.
“In all my 30 years of caddying these two rounds is the best golf I have seen from anybody,” said Foster.
“It is frightening how good Lee is.”
Foster confirmed Westwood needed just 24 putts for a career best of 60 and then recorded 28 on day two.
American John Daly also continues to impress and finish the day in fourth place at six under par after posting a one over par 73.
And the double Major winner, who is looking to end a seven year winless drought since capturing the 2004 Buick Invitational, already feels he is playing for second place.
“Playing for second is all I can do,” he said.
“If you had of told me somebody would be 20-under par after four rounds, I would have been shocked but after two?
“Lee is just in the zone. He is putting so good.
“Nobody is going to catch him so I think the thing for me to do is to go out and shoot under par the last two days.
“The course is not that easy but Lee is making it look easy but it is not easy for us.”
ASIAN TOUR FACTS –
* Westwood’s 36-hole tally matches the record held by Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat who set the mark in the 2009 Sail Open in India.
* The largest winning margin on the Asian Tour is 13 strokes held by Ernie Els in capturing the 2005 BMW Asian Open at the Thomson Club in Shanghai.
