Lee Westwood Pleased With Performance

Lee Westwood has taken positives from his second place finish at the HSBC Champions event.

It was the first tournament that Westwood played as world number one, as he replaced Tiger Woods at the top of the rankings last Monday.

It was also a return to action for the Brit after being sidelined once again with a calf injury. But Westwood couldn't quite catch winner Francesco Molinari, finishing just one stroke behind.

Speaking to Sky Sports Westwood said: "I hit a lot of good shots and a couple of poor ones today. I also had a bit of bad luck.

"It was one of those things. I mean, 18-under-par and nine shots clear of the third is never too bad.

"Two bogeys on the week so there's not many negatives. I hit some good shots down the stretch, fabulous five-iron into 18, I thought I was a little bit unlucky to release up that slope."

Molinari won the title on 19 under par after a great final day battle with Westwood, who finished just behind on 18 under.

And while Westwood was just piped to victory he had nothing but praise for his Ryder Cup team-mate.

"Not really any negatives other than that I didn't win the tournament but sometimes somebody just plays a bit better and that's what Francesco did.

"His short game was there, I thought he deserved to win, he played well."

Luke Donald and Richie Ramsay were tied for third place on nine under while Woods, who could have snatched the number one ranking back, finished on seven under par.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw