Westwood sizzles as race to Dubai hots up

England's Lee Westwood shot a sizzling 65 on Saturday to be four behind Phil Mickelson at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China, as he asserted his authority in the Race to Dubai.

Westwood narrowly leads the European Tour money list ahead of Germany's Martin Kaymer and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy with just two more events to go -- the Hong Kong Open next week and the Dubai World Championship.

He is the best-placed European in Shanghai to give himself a fine chance of winning the Order of Merit as the season winds down.

Westwood had progressed quietly through the first two days in Shanghai with rounds of 70 and 71, but made his mark with a blistering seven-under-par on Saturday.

He sandwiched his only bogey of the day at the 15th between two further gains.

And, after a birdie putt agonisingly lipped out on 17, a mammoth drive down the final fairway led to an eighth birdie of the day.

"I didn't really make a big improvement, I just sank a few more putts. I felt like I was lacking a bit of rhythm with my stroke for the first couple of days," he said.

"I tried to free it up and putt with a bit more rhythm and let the putter flow and I rolled a few in and made a couple of four or five footers to keep the momentum going."

He said he liked the course and believed he still had a chance of winning, despite being four behind Mickelson.

"I was 12 behind with ten to go two years ago and got in a playoff, so I figure that I have a chance," said Westwood, who lost in that playoff to Mickelson. "I know what's capable around this golf course. I know that if I play well, it's the type of golf course that I can shoot a low score around it."

Kaymer is three strokes behind Westwood while McIlroy is a further two shots back.

The young Irish star said he had his eye on the Race to Dubai and was hopeful of catching Westwood.

"Lee shot a very good score today so hopefully I can shoot a decent one on Sunday and try and stay with him, but Lee is obviously leading by a bit," he said.

"That round today won't do him any harm and I just have to keep plugging away and try and shoot good scores."