Lee Westwood confirmed his arrival on golf's world stage yesterday when he successfully defended his Taiheiyo Masters title, at Gotemba, south of Tokyo. Westwood, in a patch of stunning form, has now won £440,000 in three weeks, having won the Volvo Masters in Spain two weeks ago and finishing runner-up in the Sarazen World Open in Atlanta last week.

Darren Clarke challenged Westwood for the lead briefly but eventually finished in joint eighth place after a 71. His 12-under total earned him £17,038 while Westwood won £130,000.

Westwood, who now moves into the top 25 in the world rankings, said: "My ultimate goal is to be number one. Next year, though, I want to figure in the majors. I'd love to win the Open, but it may be more likely that I'd win a US Open or US PGA."

Jose Maria Olazabal, who had an uninspired week on the greens, saw a par putt at the 12th complete a 360 degree circle of the hole and come back to him. His expression implied whatever the Spanish is for "typical" and a final 71, for 11-under, gave him joint 11th place. Costantino Rocca, who lost a play-off for this title last year to Westwood, found some form in his final round and, with a 66, rose to joint 16th.

Yesterday's win was not achieved without some professional grinding. After going for 49 holes, from the fifth in the first round to the end of the third round, without a bogey, Westwood had two in his first five holes in the final round. He surrendered his three-stroke lead after nine holes with Mark O'Meara birdying the 10th to put both men on 15 under. But the American missed a two-foot birdie putt at the long 11th and although Westwood missed a 12foot eagle putt on the same green, he did at least manage the birdie and regained a lead he was never to lose.

He could have extended it at the 12th, where he missed a six-foot birdie chance and again at the 14th, where he missed from two feet. Joe Ozaki produced a charge over the last few holes, birdying four of the last five, but crucially, when he was only one shot behind on the 17th tee, he missed the green and dropped a shot. Even though brother Jumbo, up ahead, eagled the long 18th, Westwood knew that he could par the last and win.

Eventually he had a two-foot putt for his win and, despite thoughts of the 14th, rolled it in, dead centre.