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Westwood thrilled with fitness

Lee Westwood was quick to congratulate Francesco Molinari © Getty Images

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Lee Westwood has issued a positive bulletin on his fitness after holding on to his world No. 1 spot by finishing second to Francesco Molinari at the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.

Westwood returned to the course for the first time in a month with nagging doubts about the leg injury that has plagued him in the second half of the year. With Tiger Woods, Martin Kaymer and Phil Mickelson breathing down his neck in the world rankings, the pressure was on the Brit to perform and he did exactly that by taking second place - nine shots clear of Luke Donald and Richie Ramsay who tied for third place.

The Brit was seen adjusting a bandage on his leg on occasions in Shanghai, but he claims his fitness is fine and will be at full tilt for the Dubai World Championship on November 25.

"[It] got better as the week went on; feels great," Westwood said when asked about his leg. "I'm having a couple of weeks off to now just to keep working at it and edge my way back into it, because I don't want to go to Singapore and do too much on it next week. And I'll be back, going to Dubai, hopefully playing as well as I played here."

Molinari's superb win in Shanghai, where he withstood everything Westwood threw at him to win by a shot, propelled the Italian up 16 places in the rankings to 14. It also ensured him family bragging rights as it moved him above brother Edoardo who slipped one place to 17.

"Moving up the world rankings, it's always a goal for everyone," Molinari, who turned 28 on Monday, said. "To be honest, at the beginning of the season, I had a good season last year; so the goal was to get in the top 20 for the end of the year. It was a tough goal, but I think I have done it now."

World Rankings: 1. Lee Westwood (Eng), 2. Tiger Woods (USA), 3. Martin Kaymer (GER) 4. Phil Mickelson (USA), 5. Steve Stricker (USA), 6. Jim Furyk (USA), 7. Paul Casey (Eng), 8. Luke Donald (Eng), 9. Rory McIlroy (NI), 10. Graeme McDowell (NI), 11. Matt Kuchar (USA), 12. Ernie Els (RSA), 13. Dustin Johnson (USA), 14. Francesco Molinari (Ita), 15. Ian Poulter (Eng), 16. Hunter Mahan (USA), 17. Edoardo Molinari (ITA), 18. Retief Goosen (RSA), 19. Zach Johnson (USA), 20. Padraig Harrington (Ire)

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