Lee Westwood’s love affair with the UAE still going strong

Lee Westwood has had a long and eventful relationship with the UAE, first setting foot on the golf courses here in 1994 and — nearly 30 years later — his love affair with the nation is as strong as ever.

From his traditional season-opener at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship to the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai in November, the English veteran plots his season around the main events in the UAE, ensuring his creaking bones — he is now 48 years old — get enough practice to hit peak form at the right times throughout a gruelling campaign each year.

He has picked up plenty of silverware in the UAE, with three Race to Dubai crowns, and victory at both the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Abu Dhabi Championship. Last season showed he can still compete with the best as he won in Abu Dhabi and also secured his third Race to Dubai title.

“Abu Dhabi is such a good place to start the season. It is a great city and a great course that doesn’t beat you up too much,” Westwood told Gulf News in an online chat. “Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s course is not too tough, but just tough enough to test the field. Abu Dhabi is right up there as one of my favourite courses.”

Westwood also continues to be impressed at how the UAE as a whole has become a major global sporting destination.

“On top of some of the best golf competitions, there is UFC, Formula One, tennis — the list goes on,” he said. “I’m not the biggest UFC fan but I have been to the tennis and the F1 and they were amazing. The facilities here for so many sports is top-notch.

“I first came here in 1994 for the Desert Classic and there was not much to see between the airport and the golf course,” he said. “The change has been staggering. It is amazing now and one of the best places in the world.”

Despite his age, Westwood plans to get in plenty of events — balancing recuperation time with competition. “I hope to get in 24-25 tournaments this season,” he said. “I have learnt that recovery weeks are the key. I’m not afraid to take time off now for three or four weeks and then go again. When I was younger I could do 35-40 events in a year, but now I am comfortable with taking time off and recharging the batteries.”

Lee Westwood factfile

Full name Lee John Westwood
Born April 24, 1973
Height 6ft (1.83m)
Weight 205lb (93kg)
Nationality English

Career

Turned professional 1993
Professional wins 44
Highest ranking 1 (2010 — 22 weeks)
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour 2
European Tour 25 (8th all time)
Japan Golf Tour 4
Asian Tour 8 (Tied 6th all time)
Sunshine Tour 3
PGA Tour of Australasia 1
Other 3

Best in major championships

Masters 2nd/T2: 2010, 2016
PGA Championship T3: 2009
US Open 3rd/T3: 2008, 2011
The Open 2nd: 2010

Achievements and awards

European Tour Race to Dubai champion 2000, 2009, 2020
European Tour Golfer of the Year 1998, 2000, 2009, 2020