Last Updated: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:07
Lee Westwood believes he is playing the best golf of his career as he prepares for the Hong Kong Open in Fanling on Thursday.
Westwood has moved up to fourth in the world rankings, a position he held in 2000 when he won the old Order of Merit title, but he feels his game has moved on since then.
"I played pretty well in 2000 and in 1998/1999 when I was winning a lot of events, but I feel better now," The Ryder Cup star said. "I feel my game has become more rounded and there are less weaknesses so now it is just a case of finishing it off more often like I did in the late 90s and 2000.
"My previous highest place was fourth back in 2000 and I was there for two or three weeks so to go through a slump and get back to fourth obviously means a lot, it probably means more than anything I have done this year so far."
The 36-year-old currently holds a lead of 52,321 euros over Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai as they head into the penultimate event in Hong Kong, but there is a prize fund of $2.3m to play for.
Westwood has nine top-ten finishes in his last ten events and is looking to retain a lead going into the finale.
"My fate's in my hands so I'd like to come out of this week still in front," he said.
Unsurprisingly, McIlroy is looking for the victory that will guarantee him the lead, going into the last event and said: "There is not much between us now, so any ground I can gain this week will be good to take into Dubai.
"But winning will take care of that, so that is my main focus."