Westwood had just two bogeys all week en route to a 23-under 265. Ross McGowan finished second at the Earth Course at 271. With the victory, Westwood pockets $1.25 million as well as the first-place, bonus prize money of $1.5 million for winning the Race to Dubai. Rory McIlroy finished second in the R2D; Martin Kaymer placed third. Afterwards, Westwood said, "In all fairness I think that's about as good as I've ever played under this pressure. It's definitely the biggest moment of my golfing life to date. I knew that before I set out and it gives me a lot of confidence that I was able to hold myself together - until now." Then the emotion of the moment took hold as the worthy champion teared up.

Westwood was bogey-free today and has given back just two strokes all week. Moreover, he and McGowan were two of the three that carded the field-low 66s in the third round. A stable of three golfers, including Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington, are five strokes off Westwood's pace. Also at stake on Sunday are exemptions into the U.S. and British Opens, awarded to the top-15 and top-30, respectively, in the final Race to Dubai standings.

Despite a T-54 in Hong Kong, where he regretted playing, there are few if any as zeroed in on their games right as Westwood. He finally returned to the winner's circle in Portugal last month, but his overall consistency at a high level makes him a favorite everywhere he tees it up. The winner of the Race to Dubai receives $1.5 million in bonus prize money on top of his paycheck at the Dubai World Championship.

Allenby buried eight birdies at the Greg Norman-designed Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in the United Arab Emirates. Thirty-three of the 58 entrants are under par through 18 holes. Notables not among that lot are Justin Rose (E), Miguel Angel Jimenez (E), Ross Fisher (+1), Luke Donald (+1), Ernie Els (+2) and Graeme McDowell (+4). Paul Casey (rib muscle) and Anthony Kim (fatigue) are the only two eligible not competing.

Fourteen months ago, the Euro Tour increased its membership requirement from 11 to 12 starts. That will remain the minimum for the 2010 season, which begins in South Africa in three weeks. The Tour also opened up the conduit of Affiliate Membership for 2009, making it easy for non-Euro members to contend in the Race to Dubai, the final of which begins on Thursday. Adam Scott, for one, admitted that he might forego Euro Tour membership next year if the membership incentives were approved. He is likely reconsidering his decision.

Barron was awaiting the decision in Texas where he was planning on playing in the second stage of Q School. As a result, the suspension will carry into late 2010, which will prevent him from competing in the first stage of Q School next year. In essence, it's a two-year ban from membership unless he manages to win after sneaking into an event via Monday qualifying or a sponsor exemption in 2011. In hindsight, while this is how he makes his living, Barron will likely regret teeing it up in June while still weaning off the banned substance. According to Alex Miceli at Golfweek.com, Barron was completely off the Propranolol by the end of July. In response to the judge's decision tonight, the PGA Tour issed this brief statement: "We are pleased with the court's decision and have no further comment at this time."

This directly influences the eligibility of 2009 British Open runner-up, Tom Watson, who turned 60 in September and was facing his final start in the major at St. Andrews in 2010 because of the age restriction. "We have introduced this exemption as a direct response to seeing two of our great Open Champions, both in their fifties, challenging to win our championship these last two years," explained Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A, also inferring Greg Norman's T-3 in 2008 at the age of 53.