Europe’s Lee Westwood believes Tiger Woods could have an adverse effect on America’s Ryder Cup chances after the 14-time major victor was named as a vice-captain on the U.S. team.
Advertisement
Woods, who carries a sub-standard 13-17-3 Ryder Cup record, has indeed struggled to find a steady partner, and American captains have tried just about anyone they can think of in hopes of creating a formidable duo with the 14-time major victor.
Seems benign enough, but there’s a cutting point here and Westwood, who has been on every single Euro Ryder Cup team since 1997, knows exactly what he is doing. “Davis’s philosophy is to try and get players on there that are hot”, he said.
“The captain is obviously building them up a lot and making a few interesting decisions”.
He knows all about Westwood’s commitment in the heat of battle and was not surprised at the verbal jabs the Englishman has thrown in the direction of Woods and Team USA. “They (the United States team) have always struggled to find a partner for Tiger who’s been successful”.
‘He really took advantage of the intimidation factor when he was in the prime of his career but I don’t believe he is intimidating personally, and so I think he is going to be terrific in the team room.
“Jimmy [Walker] and I were the first ones there [for Ryder Cup practice on Monday at Hazeltine]”, said Spieth.
With the Ryder Cup just a week away, we have our first bit of delicious gamesmanship and it comes from one of Europe’s most decorated stars.
“I don’t know what impact there will be from having Tiger around”, Westwood said.
“We’re going to announce the final player, arguably the worst player on the team, on the biggest stage”.
Among their opponents on the European side: tennis legend Martina Navratilova, boy-bander Niall Horan from One Direction, celebrity chef Jose Andres and Nigel Lythgoe, TV producer of such spectacles as “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance”.
Advertisement
“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. Westwood went right at Captain Love, saying he was doing a good job for a “couple days” back in 2012 as a reason to rip open the wound of that US meltdown at Medinah. Westwood, himself, questioned what this scenario would do for “team spirit”. He targeted the USA’s team chemistry in speculating why Love had not yet chosen Bubba Watson as a captain’s pick.
