Golf: Westwood completes hat-trick

LEE WESTWOOD shot a three-under-par 69 yesterday in Gotemba, Japan, to become the first golfer in the 27-year history of the Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters to win the title three consecutive times.

The Englishman rebounded from bogeys on the first two holes. He sank a 33-foot birdie putt on the third and went on to score five more birdies against another bogey, finishing with a 13-under 275 total. Japan's Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki shot the day's best round, a 67, and finished on 277.

Westwood, 25, has won six tournaments this year. On the European Tour alone he won four times and finished third on the money list behind Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke.