Player Profile: Lee Westwood

On Sunday Britain's Lee Westwood was victorious for the third time at the Nordea Masters. This week's player profile highlights this seasoned player's recent career milestones as he continues to challenge his competitors for the top ranking in world golf.

Born in 1973, Westwood is a native of Nottinghamshire, England. After discovering his love for golf at a young age, Westwood has developed his game to the highest level and is one of the few players in international golf who can boast victories on almost every continent where the game is played professionally.

Westwood, known affectionately by his friends and ardent fans as 'Westy', has become a much-admired and respected figure in international golf, known especially for his consistent game and his ability to weather practically any situation on the course without breaking a sweat. Since his first professional victory at the 1996 Volvo Scandinavian Masters, this talented player has risen to the very top of the professional golf circuit.

Westwood's career has unfolded in two stages. The first period of his professional career, from 1996 to 2001, saw the young Englishman taking the European Tour by storm. In the 2000 season, in which Westwood won seven tournaments around the world, the Englishman dethroned Colin Montgomerie as Europe's undisputed top-ranked player. Following this successful season, Westwood took a leave of absence from the game in 2001 following the birth of his son Samuel.

Returning to the game with serious intent during the 2007 season, Westwood rose once again in the world golf rankings and found himself in the top 50 by the end of that year. In 2008 he progressed to the world top 20, and since his victory in 2009 at the Portugal Masters Westwood has re-established himself as a world-class player. With a total of 38 wins around the world, Lee Westwood is set to continue his success at the top level of professional golf.

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