Westwood hot at WGC-HSBC Champions

Whether it's the food or the weather, there's something about Asia that suits Lee Westwood's game, as the former world No1 demonstrated again yesterday by storming from nine shots back to take a share of the lead at the WGC-HSBC Champions.

More than a quarter of Westwood's 39 career wins have come in Asia, and he is nicely placed to make it 11 after a superb 61 he ranked in his "top five or six" all-time rounds saw him join Louis Oosthuizen on 18 under par on a remarkable day's shooting at the Olazabal Course at Mission Hills.

"I've always played pretty well in Asia," Westwood said after an 11-birdie, bogey-free round. "It's generally pretty hot here and it was quite steamy out there today. Obviously the conditions suit me … [and] I've always been a sort of middle-to-the-end-of-the year good player.

"Other than that I don't really know why I do so well here - it must be the nasi goreng or something like that!"

Two-time winner Phil Mickelson lies third, one shot back, after a 66, while Ian Poulter (65), Bill Haas (66) and Ernie Els (69) are on 14-under for a share of fourth.

It says something for the quality of the day's play that Brandt Snedeker's new tournament record 60 - he had a putt on the last for a 59 - could almost be overlooked, and the final day is set up for a fascinating showdown, with anyone from around 10 under possibly in contention.

"That's in the top five or six," Westwood said of his day's work. "I've shot a few 61s now and a 60 [in Thailand last year]. I wouldn't say this is an easy golf course by any stretch of the imagination, although we got a 60 today and there's some low scores. When you get a golf course in great condition and very little breeze and five par 5s, then we're generally going to score low."