Lee Westwood showed exactly why he is world No.1 with a thrilling one-shot victory in the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea earlier today.

The English ace returned a five-under-par 67 at Blackstone Golf Club near Seoul to edge out Spanish veteran Miguel Ángel Jiménez.

The win left Westwood celebrating back-to-back victories in Asia following his success in last week’s Indonesian Masters.

In a nail-biting finish, Westwood birdied the par-five 18th to take the outright lead at 12-under for the tournament and Jiménez, playing four holes behind, was unable to find the birdie required to force a playoff.

Jiménez’s 14-foot birdie putt at the last slid past the hole, leaving him as runner-up on 11-under after a closing 71.

“I’m delighted,” said Westwood, the first world No.1 ever to play in Korea. “Professional golf is all about winning so it is great to do it two weeks in a row. It was nice to come back from last week, refocus and get it all together for this week, as well.

“When you’re No.1, it’s always nice to come to a place and play like the No.1 and I think I’ve done that this week.”

Westwood, who began the final round three shots behind the leading trio of Jiménez, Welshman Rhys Davies and Alex Noren of Sweden, added: “It was very difficult out there today. The wind was up and swirling around.

“There were some tough holes, difficult to club, and my distance control with my irons has been very good this week. I have a great caddie in Billy Foster, as well, which always helps on a day like today.”

“To go around without making a bogey, five birdies and 13 pars, was a special round of golf, I think,” said Westwood, who earned €367,500 for his 21st European Tour victory.

With his world No.1 status underlined, Westwood was in no doubt about his next target.

“My next goal is to win a Major championship,” he said. “It’s the dream of all professional golfers to get to No. 1 in the world rankings, and I’ve done that.

“I haven’t won a Major yet and that’s the missing thing. So that’s what I gear all my practice and scheduling towards. That’s the next thing, hopefully.”

Korean Tour regular Park Sang Hyun (69) delighted the galleries at the €2.2 million Ballantine’s Championship with an eagle the last to take sole possession of third place on 10-under.

American star Dustin Johnson – making his competitive debut in Asia – carded a 69 to finish fourth on nine-under.

After the rain-affected third round was completed on Sunday morning, Jiménez, Davies and Noren were on 10-under, one shot ahead of Australian Brett Rumford.

After just three holes, Noren had moved to 12-under and held a three-shot lead over the field but four bogeys between No.4 and No.11 ended his challenge. He returned a 74 to finish tied fifth with Korea’s Hong Soon Sang (69).

Rumford – joint second in the Ballantine’s Championship 12 months ago – carded a 74 to finish joint seventh while Davies fell away with a 77 to end up tied for 13th place.

The 2011 Ballantine’s Championship was once again co-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and Korea PGA.

World No.1 Lee Westwood displays the Ballantine’s Championship trophy on Sunday (1 May) after his dramatic one-shot victory at Blackstone Golf Club near Seoul, Korea. Picture: Paul Lakatos/Parallel Media Group

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One always hears about company executives bragging about ”doing deals on the golf course.”  Well, this time around it gets serious… really serious.  Or as they say back home: SERI-AAAAS!

Howzit-HongKong recently learned that, in the crowded world of international golf, there is a World Corporate Golf Challenge that pits the best of the best executives from companies all over the world for the honour of representing their company and region at the biggy… the finals of the World Corporate Golf Challenge at the Fancourt Links in South Africa nogal!

For your information:

The Links at Fancourt was added to the Fancourt estate in 2000, and is an awe-inspiring example of magnificent design and golf-course construction, about which designer Gary Player says: “Links golf is how the game originated and at The Links we take golfers back to the roots of golf – and they can play a ‘British Open’ all of their own!” 

South Africa’s other famous international golfer, Ernie “The Big Easy” Els has a home close by, while George also plays host to the South African leg of the International Rugby Board’s World Sevens Rugby Series in December every year.

The winners of the Hong Kong edition of the World Corporate Golf Challenge will travel to the magnificent George region to play golf, and represent Hong Kong at the finest course in South Africa.

So all you golf-loving business executives out there in the SAR, here’s your chance to represent your company – and Hong Kong – on the world stage.

The territory is to host a leg of the World Corporate Golf Challenge – the prestigious inter-companies tournament that each year sees thousands of businessmen around the globe transfer their boardroom battles to the fairways.

The fantastic prize on offer to the winners of the Hong Kong event is an all-expenses paid trip to play in the World Final in South Africa next May.

Twenty teams – comprising four players who each have a maximum handicap of 24 – will contest the WCGC Hong Kong on Friday, 5 March 2010 at the Discovery Bay Golf Club on Lantau Island.

“Corporate golfers in Hong Kong have been crying out for a meaningful and high-profile tournament that carries a real incentive to play well,” said Simon Wait, project director of event organisers Two Up Front.

“This goes way beyond your typical corporate golf event. As well as enjoying an ultra-competitive tournament at one of the most picturesque courses in Asia, the teams will be playing for a fantastic prize – the chance to represent Hong Kong in a world tournament at an exotic location.

“Initial interest from the corporate sector is very strong and we are expecting a rush of entries from companies keen to claim bragging rights on the golf course.

“Moreover, this will be an annual event for the Hong Kong business community to look forward to and, as word spreads, we expect it to become even more popular, especially as the World Final is regularly moved to a new location.”

Previous World Finals have been held in Jamaica, Mauritius, Malaysia and Spain.

The 2010 World Final – featuring teams from more than 20 countries and territories – will take place at the beautiful Fancourt and Oubaai Golf Clubs in South Africa’s spectacular Garden Route region from 3-8 May 2010.

The WCGC Hong Kong already has its first sponsor – organisers have reached agreement with HK Golfer to be the Official Golf Magazine of the tournament.

Hong Kong-based sports PR and publishing specialists Two Up Front have secured a long-term licence to host the Hong Kong leg from the WCGC’s parent company in Spain.

They are co-organising the tournament with event management company Laxton Marketing Consultants, who have offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai. The two firms have previously worked together on other high profile sporting events, including the HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens and the Hong Kong Tens rugby tournament.

Companies requiring information about sponsorship opportunities or wishing to register a team in the WCGC Hong Kong should call Amy Broomhead on 3579 8110 or email amy@laxtonmarketing.com.

Make the boss proud and enter.