BMW International: Lee Westwood confessed he had considered "jacking in" golf for six months after he ended three frustrating years without a win in swashbuckling style in the BMW International at Nord-Eichenried.
The man whose game collapsed after he brought Colin Montgomerie's seven-year reign as European No1 to a close with the help of six European Tour triumphs in 2000, cantered over the final nine holes in 30 for a 66.
His 19-under-par 269 lifted him three clear of Germany's Alex Cejka for a £207,000 jackpot. But it was the manner and not the margin of his victory which truly consigned the dark days to history.
He admitted: "The last three years have been the worst of my career. You find out a lot about yourself and the people around you, the ones who try to boost your confidence and the others who disappear into the background.
"I though about jacking it in for six months but I just didn't think that was the right way to go. A lot of people were giving me grief in the papers and magazines, saying I'd never win again, and it's nice to stick two fingers up to them. I knew I wouldn't lose the feeling. I won 24 times in four years and I knew if I got the chance I'd know how to win again."
Westwood started the day three behind Robert Karlsson and he was still three behind after matching the Swede's 36 to the turn with the help of a birdie four at the 9th.
Another birdie four from 10 feet at the 11th opened the floodgates for the 30-year-old who had slumped so alarmingly from fourth to 215th in the world rankings after that magical summer of 2000.
Westwood said on Saturday he would need to stay patient and not become exasperated if things were slow to happen on the flat parkland course that has yielded birdies galore over the years. He did just that in the face of Karlsson's remorseless display of power golf, which saw him finish 14 under par for 16 par-fives over the four days.
Westwood's reward came as he completed a hat-trick of birdies by coaxing in a curling 10-footer for a two at the 12th, then going within a couple inches of an eagle two at the next. That left him tied for the lead with Karlsson and seconds later Cejka, fresh from his fourth place in the US PGA Championship, moved alongside at 16 under par with a birdie at the 16th.
Westwood, who had won on every continent prior to his slump, had his tail up now. It was game on for the man who loves to win and loves even more to win in style. Rounding off the day with a second birdie hat-trick proved the perfect finale.
At 16 he spun his approach back four yards to the hole side for a chip-in three. At the short 17th he cheekily chipped in for his two, and a deft chip to three feet after two mighty blows into the jaws of the green at the 568-yard 18th completed the job.
The opposition simply crumbled under Westwood's assault, with Karlsson running up a pair of double bogeys en route to a 74 to end five behind.
Cejka's dogged 67 kept him a stroke clear of Britain's Andrew Coltart (68), Gary Evans (71) and Paul Casey, who eagled the last for 69, the Swede Peter Hedblom, home in 31 for a 67 and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin (71).
Westwood, whose six European wins in 2000 matched the feats of Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Montgomerie, was emotional at the finish. "There've been a lot of false dawns. This one felt different because I've been controlling the ball much better and starting to roll the putts more consistently with the belly-putter.
"It's very special. My son, who was born at the start of 2000, saw me win for the first time on the telly back home. My wife said he was so excited he was jumping up and down and fell over and hit his head.
"I've got to give a lot of credit to my coach David Leadbetter. We've worked together since February and he rings me two or three times a week. It was also a huge advantage having Peter Coleman caddieing for me.
"I had a bet on myself at 66-1 before the off because I knew I was nearly there. I knew the swing was flawed but it's getting better and better now."
