Jakarta - Lee Westwood celebrated his 38th birthday with a comfortable three-stroke victory at the Indonesian Masters on Sunday to stay in the hunt for regaining the world number one spot from German Martin Kaymer.
The world number two will top the rankings if fellow Briton Luke Donald, who leads by a stroke at the $750 000 Heritage tournament in South Carolina after the penultimate round, fails to land the trophy.
"It was about coming here this week and trying to win the Indonesian Masters and I've done that. I've ticked every box this week so we will have to wait and see what happens," Westwood said after his win.
Donald could overtake Kaymer, who is not playing this week, and Westwood, despite his victory, because the Heritage carries more ranking points than the Asian Tour event.
Westwood, who led by five strokes after the third round, started with a birdie on the first hole but dropped a shot on the second to make the turn at even-par 36 at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
Westwood, who was world number one for 17 weeks until Kaymer replaced him in February, birdied the 11th and 12th holes after eight straight pars to take control of the leaderboard to end on a 19-under 269.
"It was quite some day. I knew it wasn't going to be easy with a five-shot lead. Park (Hyun-bin) played well on the front nine and Thongchai was making many birdies," he said.
"But I was experienced enough to know that patience was the key. When you are coming down those last few holes, the only person who knows what to do better is yourself.
"This is my 18th or 19th year playing on Tour and I still love it. I've always said that when I stop loving the game, I'll quit but I still love getting on the aeroplane and playing with some of the best players in the world on some of the greatest golf courses."
He returned to play his last hole after an hour's delay due to lightning and parred it before the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to him.
Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee finished second with a bogey-free 65 while Park Hyun-bin of South Korea and Thailand's Thitiphun Chuayprakong were joint third along with Bangladesh's Siddikur Rahman and Australian Marcus Both at 13-under 275.
Leading final scores from the Indonesian Masters at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club:
Final Round:
Lee Westwood, England 68-66-66-69-269
Thongchai Jaidee, Thailand 67-70-70-65-272
Thitiphun Chuayprakong, Thailand 68-68-69-70-275
Park Hyun-bin, South Korea 67-68-70-70-275
Siddikur, India 66-72-69-68-275
Marcus Both, Australia 70-70-69-66-275
Prayad Marksaeng, Thailand 67-70-69-71-277
Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thailand 69-68-72-71-277
Prom Meesawat, Thailand 70-68-69-73-280
Antonio Lascuna, Philippines 67-70-70-73-280
Rory Hie, Indonesia 68-74-69-69-280
Lin Wen-Tang, Taiwan 71-67-70-72-280