Bunch of fives for Westwood

Worksop's Lee Westwood clinched his fifth European Tour victory of the year with a four-stroke triumph in the Belgacom Open at Knokke.  

The world number six carded a last-round 65 on the Royal Zoute course to secure a second Belgian victory in three years.

Argentina's Eduardo Romero, with a final-round 66, grabbed second place, one stroke clear of Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who began the last day a one-stroke leader.

The Irishman, who was looking to claim only a third Tour victory, bogeyed two of his first three holes but could only then manage just as many birdies in an even-par round of 71.

Westwood collected £102,000 for a victory that moved him back to the top of the European Order of Merit. He is now £42,600 ahead of Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke, who missed the halfway cut.

Westwood also moved to the top of the Ryder Cup points table and is also one Tour victory away from equalling Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie, who share the record for six wins in a season.

"I won it well today and my score could have been a lot lower," said Westwood. "It was a solid performance and I did what I needed to do under pressure.

"I don't think I have hit the ball as well as I did this week. I would rate my week a seven out of 10 but today I played better than seven. Mentally I was strong."

Harrington was leading by two strokes heading to the last hole on Saturday but bogeyed to finish just one ahead of Westwood and Dane Soren Hansen. But any hopes of the Dubliner getting the jump on his rivals disappeared after bogeys at the first and third holes.

Montgomerie again failed to impress, finishing well down in a share of 26th place with a closing round 70.