Lee Westwood, The 41-year-old Englishman began the day in third, two shots behind leader Marcus Fraser, but set the clubhouse target with seven birdies in a five-under-par 67 to win by a single stroke.. “There’s nothing like finishing a year strongly to give you a bit of momentum for the next year,” said Westwood, who recovered from two opening dropped shots at the Amata Spring Country Club. “It’s a fantastic place to come and play golf,” he said. Quartet Qualify For The Open at St Andrews 2015 Marcus Fraser narrowly missed out on claiming his first win since 2010, but his disappointment was largely offset by the knowledge that he had qualified for next British Open at St Andrews.
The Australian, who finished tied second alongside Martin Kaymer, a shot behind winner Lee Westwood, earned one of four places in the game’s oldest Major that were up for grabs at the 2014 Thailand Golf Championship, which forms part of the Open Qualifying Series. “That’s why I came up here – to try and get one of those sports at The Open at St Andrews next year, so it’s great, I’m excited,” said Fraser, who bogeyed Amata Spring Country Club’s demanding 18th hole to miss the opportunity of forcing a play-off with Englishman Westwood.
Fraser’s fellow countryman Scott Hend (fifth), India’s Anirban Lahiri and Jonathan Moore of the United States (tied sixth) were the other non-exempt players to earn their places in the field at the Home of Golf in 2015. Long-hitting Hend was equally effusive about winning his ticket to Scotland. “I’m very excited. I was thinking more about the four spots in The Open [than winning the tournament]. It created a bit more pressure because I really wanted desperately to play in another Open. It’s awesome,” said Hend.
Thailand Golf Championship Winners
2014: Lee Westwood (Eng) winning score: eight under
2013: Sergio Garcia (Sp) winning score: 22 under
2012: Charl Schwartzel (SA) winning score: 25 under
2011: Lee Westwood (Eng) winning score: 22 under
