• European Tour

I'm playing the best golf of my career - Westwood

Lee Westwood cruised to victory in Thailand © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Westwood cruises to seven-shot success
  
• Profile: Lee Westwood

Lee Westwood believes he has never played golf so well after securing his fourth victory of 2011 at the Thailand Golf Championship.

The Englishman, who will rise to No. 2 in the world rankings when they are released on Monday, enjoyed a relatively relaxed afternoon at Amata Springs Golf Club - holding off Charl Schwartzel to win by seven shots after starting the day with a four-stroke advantage.

The foundations for victory were built over the opening two days as Westwood followed an opening round of 60 with an eight-under par round of 64 in more testing conditions, enough to open up an 11-shot advantage after 36 holes.

Based on those two days, the 38-year-old believes he is currently playing the best golf of his career.

"I've amazed myself really," Westwood said. "It's been staggering, it all came together well. It's probably the best I've ever played.

"It was special this week because of the difficulty of the course. I've never had an 11-shot lead before and it was difficult to come out and refocus and reset goals.

"At 20-under after two rounds, it's yours to lose really with an 11-shot lead. There was pressure involved. [On Saturday] I didn't know how to approach it or handle it."

A successful 2011 did not include a major win however, as golf's biggest prizes once again eluded him. However, Westwood is confident that he is in a better position than ever to challenge for one of the four most prestigious tournaments in 2012.

"I'm in a tricky position because I've been so successful but not won a major," he noted. "Anytime I've gone a year without a major, people are always going to say it's been a disappointing year for Lee Westwood.

"If I was to evaluate the way I'm playing now and a year ago, I'm a better player."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.