Westwood, the English star who won the Asian Tour’s Indonesian Masters last week to regain the No. 1 spot in the world, finished at 12-under 276 at Blackstone Resort in the event sanctioned by the European and Asian tour and Korea PGA.

“It’s always nice when you’re world No. 1 to show everybody why you’re in that position,” Westwood said. “I’m delighted with the way I played this week.”

The 47-year-old Jimenez, Westwood’s European Ryder Cup teammate and dining companion Saturday night, parred the final nine holes for a 71.

“I was just happy he didn’t make a birdie and make it difficult for me,” said Westwood, who finished about an hour before Jimenez. “It’s very nerve-racking when you have to sit there and somebody’s got some holes to play.”

Westwood shot a 69 in the completion of the rain-delayed third round to begin the finale three strokes behind Jimenez, Alexander Noren and Rhys Davies. Westwood birdied Nos. 14 and 15 to tie Jimenez, then pulled ahead with a birdie on the par-5 18th.

“It was an old man’s performance, really,” Westwood said. “I hung around all week, then today when I needed to do anything I just gauged my way through the field and, obviously, got my head in front on the line.”

Westwood won for the first time on the European Tour since the 2009 Dubai World Championship and matched Sam Torrance for ninth place on the tour’s victory list with 21. The 38-year-old Westwood has 35 worldwide victories.

South Korea’s Park Sang-hyun eagled the final hole for a 69 to finish third at 10 under. American Dustin Johnson was fourth at 9 under after a 69.

Noren had a 74 to tie for fifth at 8 under, while Davies shot a 77 to drop into a tie for 13th at 5 under.
 
Watson, Simpson share lead

In Avondale, Louisiana, Bubba Watson made a 4-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a 2-under 70 and a share of third-round lead with Webb Simpson in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Simpson had five straight birdies in a 67 to match Watson, who has had at least a share of the lead after all three rounds, at 12-under 204 at TPC Louisiana.

John Rollins (69) was third at 11 under, and 2002 winner K.J. Choi (67) was 10 under along with Steve Stricker (68), George McNeill (65), Charles Howell III (66), Tommy Gainey (68) and Matt Jones (69).

Luke Donald, who missed an opportunity to jump from No. 3 to No. 1 in the world a week ago when he lost playoff to Brandt Snedeker at Hilton Head, was 7 under after a 70.