Briton Lee Westwood has been named the European Tour's Golfer of the Year after a season which ended with him being crowned European No. 1 for the second time in his career. The 36-year-old Englishman's chances of becoming European No. 1 again had looked remote when he plummeted to 246th in the world following his Order of Merit win in 2000. “It is a fantastic honor and caps a wonderful season for me and all those who have helped me get to this position,” said Westwood, who has been European Tour Golfer of the Year twice before, in 1998 and 2000, and joins Severiano Ballesteros, Ernie Els and Nick Faldo as a three-time winner. “This probably means more to me in recognising how I have fought my way back to the top.” At one point, eight years ago, Westwood contemplated giving up golf. However, he completed his return to the top in Europe by producing a breathtaking finish to the season in which he clinched top place in the Race to Dubai (money-list) with victory in last month's Dubai World Championship. Westwood, one of the most successful Ryder Cup players, went into the tour's elite season-ending event trailing Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai, knowing that only victory could ensure he again won the Harry Vardon Trophy. With the 20-year-old McIlroy exerting pressure all week and finishing third in the Dubai World Championship, Westwood could not afford to put a foot wrong. A final-round eight-under-par 64 over the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates allowed him to clinch a six-stroke victory for his 20th European Tour title. Westwood also won the Portugal Masters to earn record seasonal winnings of 4,237,762 euro and recorded 11 top-10 finishes from 13 events after the June US Open. He finished joint third in the British Open Championship at Turnberry, where he was within a putt of making the play-off with Stewart Cink and Tom Watson, and had a similar result in the US.PGA Championship at Hazeltine. Blumenherst leads 20 into LPGA for 2010 American Amanda Blumenherst fired a four-under par 68 Monday in the final round of the LPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament in Daytona Beach to win the 106-woman showdown that decided 20 tour players for 2010. Blumenherst finished the storm-interrupted, 90-hole event on nine-under par 351 to defeat compatriot Kate Kempter and Norway's Marianne Skarpnord by two strokes with Paraguay's Julieta Granada fourth on 354. A total of 13 players from outside the United States were among the 20 who booked their place in next year's LPGA lineup, with the drama surrounding the final spot not ending until after a playoff. South Korean Lee Il Hee beat American Christi Cano in a playoff for the final tour berth after they shared 20th on level par 360. Canada's Lisa Meldrum, Spain's Azahara Munoz and Maria Hernandez and American Nicole Jeray all made the 2010 LPGA list on 355, as did Americans Leah Wigger and Nicole Hage and Spaniard Beatriz Recari on 356. Australian Tamie Durdin, Colombian Mariajo Uribe and American Lucy Kim were in on 357 with Denmark's Iben Tinning qualfiying on 358. Sharing 16th to sneak in at 359 were Sweden's Pernilla Lindberg, American Liz Janangelo, Spain's Tania Elosegui and France's Gwladys Nocera. Eight players missed out by a single stroke in the fight for 2010, the most heart-wrenching being Canadian Adrienne White, who fired her worst round of the week at 75 in the last round 75, and Mexican Tanya Dergal, who had a 74 Monday. Others who finished on 361 included Australian Sarah-Jane Smith, Colombia's Paola Moreno, New Zealand amateur Cathryn Bristow and Americans Jamie Hullett, Nanette Hill and Diana D'Alessio.
