Westwood will be one of the experienced players in the team on hand to help rookies such as Chris Wood, Thomas Pieters and Matt Fitzpatrick adjust to the unique Ryder Cup atmosphere, but he hinted the US team might have some teething troubles of their own.
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Westwood also referred to Love’s captaincy in 2012 at Medinah, and the handling of wildcard picks this time, as being potentially significant.
“The times I’ve been on the same teams as Tiger he was anything but a divisive figure”, said Azinger. The USA captain has one wildcard remaining, with Watson seemingly involved in a battle against Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger for that spot. But ahead of the much-anticipated event in the US, Westwood has questioned the team spirit of the hosts. “Love’s has not picked Bubba Watson and I don’t know what that does for team spirit – he was first outside the points qualification and is No.7 in the world”. Medinah, of course, was the highlight of Poulter’s Ryder Cup career and the vehicle now has pride of place in his museum, built next to his home in Orlando.
“I think Tiger’s going to be terrific in the team room”.
Throwing diplomacy out of the window, the long-hitting Johnson on Wednesday made clear his thoughts regarding Mickelson, who is a five-times major champion. Westwood is right that he’s never really had a go-to partner and his profile and career can suck the oxygen from the other 23 players in the competition. But Westwood does not think on the same lines as that of Love, and the English golfer believes his presence might hurt the United States team.
The former USPGA champ and ex-Ryder captain, now a top TV pundit, said: “Westwood is smart”.
They lost both matches 3&2.
Life would also become uncomfortable for Europe’s captain, Darren Clarke, should Paul Casey win the FedExCup on Sunday.
The American and European players will gather at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minnesota, next week for the biennial showdown.
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“Me and Phil don’t partner well together”, added Johnson, in what amounted to a public plea to US Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III.
