Lee Westwood wins the BBC East Midlands Sports Award 2010
The world number one Lee Westwood was given the BBC East Midlands Sports Award today. The player overcame intense competition with the English cricketer Graeme Swann and star boxer Carl Froch to earn the accolade.
Westwood was given the award by the famous goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Shilton, who has played for former Derby County Leicester City, England and Nottingham Forest, is one of Westwood’s favourite sports personalities.
"It means a lot. It's obviously the place where I live and it's nice to be voted for in the East Midlands,” said Westwood. "It's lovely to be presented it by [Peter] who I have admired for a long time. He's saved Forest many a game.”
Eight weeks after taking the top position, the Worksop golfer is surely enjoying being the best player in golf. With so much competition among the talented players like Martin Kaymer, Phil Mickelson or even Tiger Woods himself, Lee’s title is embedded pretty
deep now. Westwood dethroned golf legend and fourteen times major winner, Woods as golf’s number one player on October 31st of this year. So far, he has held his top spot longer than two of the 12 predecessors, Tom Lehman and Bernhard Langer. By
the end of year, Westy would have stayed in the top spot longer than the South African legend, Ernie Els.
Lee, who surprisingly hasn’t won a major yet, still has a long way to go before he beats his rival’s 623 week long stay as golf’s number one player.
The team of the year award was given to cricket’s county champions, Nottinghamshire and their director Mick Newell won the Coach of the Year. The Junior Sportsperson of the Year award was given to Sam Oldham from Keyworth, Nottingham.
Westwood was also one of the ten players to be nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. Along with Lee, another golfer, Graeme McDowell who won the U.S. Open this year was also nominated. Unfortunately, none of the golfers won the award and
it was taken by the Jockey AP McCoy. Despite not wining the award, Westwood still remains the best golfer in the world.
Even though he suffered a calf muscle injury, Lee has had an amazing year. Not having played in many tournaments this year, Westy will make sure to not miss them next year. Westwood is confident heading into 2011 and is ready to embark on yet another journey
of greatness.
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