Lee Westwood triumphed in the inaugural Shui On Land China Golf Challenge Sunday by defeating Liang Wenchong in a playoff at Caesars Golf in Macau.
The 38-year-old Englishman holed a 12-foot putt for a birdie three at the eighteenth to beat Liang in the first hole of a sudden death playoff.
Westwood, the world number two, and Liang, China’s number one golfer, parred the day’s two holes to record an 18-hole total of two under par 71, one shot ahead of Ian Poulter.
Rory McIlroy, the US Open champion and world number three, finished six over in the exhibition event which saw the four players play 18 holes in seven Chinese cities in seven days.
“I think I do well in Asia because I just adapt well,” said Westwood who earlier this year won the Indonesia Masters and the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea.
“I adapt to the grasses and I adapt to the culture and the food. Playing world golf is all about adapting.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing with Liang this week. I know him as I’ve played with him many times, but this week we’ve been living in each other’s pockets and spending a lot of time together, so you get to learn a bit more. He’s got a great sense of humour and likes a practical joke.”
Liang, who led the competition after day three before Westwood joined him on the top of the leaderboard on Saturday, said: “It has been a great tournament and I’m happy I was able to get into the playoff with Lee.
“I did my best and although I lost, it was by the smallest margin. I’ve been able to play with three world-class players and seen how they act, how they talk, how they walk, and this will help elevate me to the next level.”
The event started in Shanghai on Monday and took the players to Zhengzhou, Beijing, Dalian, Chongqing and Dongguan, before finishing in Macau.
