Westwood fit to lead Europe
Source: Agencies |
October 1, 2010, Friday
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LEE Westwood, Europe's No. 1 player who will next week trail only Tiger Woods in the world rankings, said he has fully recovered from his calf injury and ready to lead from the front in his seventh Ryder Cup.
The Englishman has not played competitively for a month after finally succumbing to a calf strain suffered in June and at one point his participation at Celtic Manor this week looked in severe doubt.
However, Westwood told reporters in Newport, Wales, yesterday he had no concerns over his fitness and was happy to take on the leadership role, hinting he would be the first European teeing off in today's opening fourball matches.
"I'm going to go out there and try and hit the first fairway in my match," the 37-year-old said before setting off for his final practice round in benign conditions.
"Try and knock it on the green, try and win that first hole, try and win a point that first morning.
"And I want to see 11 people stood there right behind me following me," added Westwood, who is by far Europe's most experienced Ryder Cup player at Celtic Manor.
"I know everybody can't play but if I get out there, chest out, chin up, I suppose I've got the most experience, try and show them how it's done.
"We have got 11 great players who are well capable of following me and playing to the best of their ability."
Westwood was paired yesterday with 21-year-old Rory McIlroy, who had partnered fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell earlier this week.
With McIlroy and McDowell likely to play together in the fourballs, Westwood and McIlroy appear set for the alternate-shot foursomes format.
In all probability, European captain Colin Montgomerie will pair Westwood with one of the six rookies in the Cup fourballs to help them cope with what is always a nerve-wracking first-time experience.
Westwood, who will overhaul American Phil Mickelson to lie second in the world rankings next week, said he has full confidence in Europe's debutantes.
"One is a major champion (Martin Kaymer), another (McIlroy) is 21 years old and already won in Europe and America and he's the top-10 in the world," Westwood added.
"Two of them have won the last two qualifying events going into the Ryder Cup (Edoardo Molinari and Peter Hanson) - so they can play under pressure.
"One is about as steady as it gets from tee-to-green, Francesco (Molinari), he's unbelievably impressive and qualified quite easily and the other (Ross Fisher) is a World Match Play Champion, and we are playing match play this week."
Westwood, who made his Ryder Cup debut under Seve Ballesteros in 1997, has played 29 matches and has a particularly impressive pairs record.
The Englishman has not played competitively for a month after finally succumbing to a calf strain suffered in June and at one point his participation at Celtic Manor this week looked in severe doubt.
However, Westwood told reporters in Newport, Wales, yesterday he had no concerns over his fitness and was happy to take on the leadership role, hinting he would be the first European teeing off in today's opening fourball matches.
"I'm going to go out there and try and hit the first fairway in my match," the 37-year-old said before setting off for his final practice round in benign conditions.
"Try and knock it on the green, try and win that first hole, try and win a point that first morning.
"And I want to see 11 people stood there right behind me following me," added Westwood, who is by far Europe's most experienced Ryder Cup player at Celtic Manor.
"I know everybody can't play but if I get out there, chest out, chin up, I suppose I've got the most experience, try and show them how it's done.
"We have got 11 great players who are well capable of following me and playing to the best of their ability."
Westwood was paired yesterday with 21-year-old Rory McIlroy, who had partnered fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell earlier this week.
With McIlroy and McDowell likely to play together in the fourballs, Westwood and McIlroy appear set for the alternate-shot foursomes format.
In all probability, European captain Colin Montgomerie will pair Westwood with one of the six rookies in the Cup fourballs to help them cope with what is always a nerve-wracking first-time experience.
Westwood, who will overhaul American Phil Mickelson to lie second in the world rankings next week, said he has full confidence in Europe's debutantes.
"One is a major champion (Martin Kaymer), another (McIlroy) is 21 years old and already won in Europe and America and he's the top-10 in the world," Westwood added.
"Two of them have won the last two qualifying events going into the Ryder Cup (Edoardo Molinari and Peter Hanson) - so they can play under pressure.
"One is about as steady as it gets from tee-to-green, Francesco (Molinari), he's unbelievably impressive and qualified quite easily and the other (Ross Fisher) is a World Match Play Champion, and we are playing match play this week."
Westwood, who made his Ryder Cup debut under Seve Ballesteros in 1997, has played 29 matches and has a particularly impressive pairs record.
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