The Ryder Cup 2016 is just eight days away and mind games seem to have already started, with Englishman Lee Westwood claiming Tiger Woods might have an “adverse effect in the team room” for the US.
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He was responding to Westwood’s suggestion that Woods, who will be one of Davis Love III’s vice-captains next week, had never been able to bond successfully with his team-mates at the Ryder Cup. “[The U.S. team] have always struggled to find a partner for Tiger that’s been successful”. “It might be different if he’s one of the vice-captains – you don’t know”.
Europe are aiming to win the Ryder Cup for a fourth straight time when the event begins at Hazeltine on September 30. It will be the first time he has taken a background role in a Ryder Cup team since making his debut at Valderrama in 1997.
“They (Westwood’s comments) could motivate the American team as well”. Love has not picked Bubba Watson and I don’t know what that does for team spirit.
There are some big names in both the teams, including Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson (both Europe), Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth (United States).
Throwing diplomacy out of the window, the long-hitting Johnson on Wednesday made clear his thoughts regarding Mickelson, who is a five-time major champion.
Meanwhile, world number one Jason Day of Australia is relishing putting his feet up to watch the tournament after the PGA Tour Championship at East Lake.
Westwood also referred to Love’s captaincy in 2012 at Medinah, and the handling of wildcard picks this time, as being potentially significant. Scot Russell Knox, the other British player in the elite field of 30, also had an indifferent 37 on the front nine. “I love Phil and we’re great friends but we have a lot more fun when we’re playing against each other than when we’re partners”.
Meanwhile, England’s Paul Casey may not be eligible for the Ryder Cup, but the “weird” feeling of watching be eased by having an extra $11.5m (£8.8m) in his bank account.
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1927 – Date of the first Ryder Cup at Worcester Country Club in MA.
