Lee Westwood of England in the Hunt of No. 1 Spot in ndonesia Masters golf tournament at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club

Lee Westwood of England

World No. 2 Lee Westwood shot a brilliant six-under 66 yesterday to take the third round lead in the US$750,000 Indonesia Masters golf tournament at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

Despite bogeying the last hole, the Englishman still found himself enjoying a five-shot lead on 16-under 200 to put himself in prime position of celebrating his 38th birthday with a victory.

South Korea’s Asian Tour rookie Park Hyun-bin, who has only one bogey (second round) in his campaign so far, fired a 70 to share second place with Thailand’s Thitiphun Chuayprakong on a 205 total in the inaugural event.

Westwood, who returned yesterday morning to complete two holes of the second round, attributed his fine form to his decision to revert to the conventional putter from the belly putter.

Westwood could reclaim the No. 1 spot he lost to Martin Kaymer in February if Luke Donald does not win the PGA Tour’s Heritage event in the United States.

However, the Englishman said he was more focused on winning the tournament as “the world rankings will take care of themselves”.

Malaysia’s Shaaban Hussin, who sprang a surprise to lead the second round after play was suspended due to lightning on Friday, blew up with a three-over 75 yesterday for a three-day total of 210 – 10 shots off the leader.

Bogeys on holes two, four, five and 10 against a single birdie on the seventh hole shattered his hopes of retaining the top spot going into the final round today.