Westwood eyes 2011 repeat

Last updated: 27th November 2012

World number six Lee Westwood hopes he can repeat the performance he produced at last year's Thailand Golf Championship during his title defense next month.

In the 2011 event, the Englishman wowed the Thai crowds by firing a first round 60 and had the title all but wrapped up after his second round 64, which equaled the Asian Tour 36-hole mark and put him on 20-under par at the halfway stage.

Described as "the best golf" of his career, Westwood eventually finished seven strokes clear of South African Charl Schwartzel in second place.

"Let's put it this way - I'll be more than happy if I can emulate my start of last year," Westwood commented ahead of the tournament, which starts on December 6.

"In fact I probably played better the second round than I did when scoring 60 in the first. I think I was something like 20-under-par for the first two rounds. As for a 59... you never know.

"I think the beauty of the course is that it forces you to use every club in the bag and keeps you thinking. Some holes call for a booming drive and others for placement.

"It's a really good test and a very well-run tournament."

Despite finishing well behind the leaders at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai this past weekend, the Briton will headline a field which also includes Schwartzel, 2011 Open champion Darren Clarke and Japan's Ryo Ishikawa.

"It is important in the region's golfing development that they have as many tournaments of Thailand Golf Championship standard as possible and attract as many of the world's top players as they can.

"Golf's future is beginning to look more and more as if it will have a strong base in Asia."