Westwood won't change schedule over Ryder Cup
Lee Westwood has been as proud as anyone to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup but he insisted today that he will not be changing his schedule purely to try to make this September’s side.
Captain Ian Woosnam said last week that Westwood and Padraig Harrington “have to start making a move really” to qualify for his team and that playing in America could count against them in the final reckoning.
The pair are back on home soil this week for the Quinn Direct British Masters at The Belfry – scene of four matches against the Americans.
They also play in next week’s Irish Open and then the BMW Championship at Wentworth and by the end of the month hope, of course, to be back on course for a place at the K Club near Dublin in four months’ time.
But Westwood said: “I’m not prepared to change my schedule just for one week’s golf. I set my stall out last year to play in America and I’m going to stick to it. I see no reason to change.
“I love playing in the Ryder Cup and have been very proud, but I do this for a living.
“Looking at it (the points table) somebody is going to miss out and I’m not confident it won’t be me.”
Hardly surprising that he feels that way because he has just missed his last three halfway cuts in the States.
“But a lot changes over the summer – we’re playing for nearly half a million points this week (it could lift Westwood from 26th in the standings to 11th) and if you play really well in the next three weeks you almost guarantee yourself a place in the team.”
Europe’s qualifying system is that the first five players make it from world ranking points earned during the 12-month race and then the next five from European Order of Merit points. Woosnam then adds two wild cards.
If Westwood rediscovers form he knows he should be fine. Only two of his tournaments between now and the end of August do not count for the Order of Merit – but that could make all the difference, of course.
The Worksop golfer is no great fan of the system. He argued two years ago when there was a controversy over the eligibility of Jesper Parnevik and Luke Donald that all that should matter is whether you are European, not whether you are a member of the European tour or not.
His preferred method would be to select 10 players off world rankings, even though he understands the reasons the European tour has it the way they do in the hope that the top players play more Order of Merit events.
