Lee Westwood vows to celebrate his birthday in style at the Indonesian Masters
World number 2, Lee Westwood is all set to celebrate his birthday in style on the final day of Indonesian Masters. The tournament is scheduled to tee off on Thursday, April 21 and Westwood is one of the top ranking players who have come out to bid for the
top slot in Asian Tour this season.
The Englishman boasts a terrific record on the Asian courses unmatched by many of his European contenders and has expressed his fondness of the Asian courses time and again. Westwood will be turning 38 on Sunday April 24, which will also be the final day
of the $750,000 Indonesian Masters.
Winning on a tropical course however, in a field which is homegrown and familiar with the climatic conditions, will be anything but easy for the celebrated golfer.
“It will be nice to win because my birthday is on Sunday, but it will be difficult as there are a lot of strong players out here in Asia and you have to play well to win,” he said.
Westwood had a modest start to the season and finished 11th in last week’s Masters. Indonesian Masters is crucial for Westwood in more than one way, as a win here would enable him to get the coveted number one spot in the World Golf Rankings back
from Germany’s Martin Kaymer. Westwood lost his number one spot to Kaymer at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship early this year.
Also featuring on the tournament is the Asian star golfer Thongchai Jaidee, the three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit Champion. The 41-year-old Thai golfer has won before on the current venue the Royale Jakarta Golf Club in 2009 and is much familiar with
the tricky greens.
“There is quite a strong field here. We have Lee Westwood and all good Asian Tour players but if I putt well, I think I have a good chance of winning,” said Thongchai.
Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang is coming out of a four month’s break and recently showed up to participate in the Maybank Malaysian Open but is still facing the handicap of being away from the course for too long.
“Before the Malaysian Open, I was on a four-month break. Believe or not, I felt a bit nervous playing in my first event after such a long break but I’m feeling better now and ready to challenge for honours,” said Lin.
Westwood, Jaidee, Gaganjeet Bhullar, and Chapchai Nirat were also the main celebrities of the Indonesian Masters Dinner Gala which was arranged on Tuesday, April 19. The players, with their active participation in the dinner, were able to raise up to $22,400
for the charity Habitat for Humanity.
Westwood’s signed shirt and his golf clinic sold for $7,000. The players also smiled for the snaps with the guests in return for small donations.
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