JOY RYDER LEE READY
Westwood backs new system
LEE WESTWOOD is backing Padraig Harrington’s Ryder Cup points shake-up – even though it could cost him a fairy-tale recall at Whistling Straits.
Westwood, who will be 48 when the contest takes place in September, was among the automatic qualifiers when the process was frozen last March.
But from the European Tour’s restart tomorrow, when Westwood defends his Abu Dhabi Championship title, all points will count extra after a request from captain Harrington.
“Padraig has taken the decision to change the points system,” said the Englishman.
“It’s like a bonus system, the closer you get to the Ryder Cup the more points you play for.
“There are people who won a few points before it was halted last year. But it makes complete sense that you have players there who are on form.
“You want your strongest and best team, a team on form, when you play the Americans.
“We’re playing for a lot of points these first few weeks but as the year goes on, they double. So, you need to play consistently well through the year.”
Points accrued from events until May 9 will be multiplied by 1.5, with all points earned from the British Masters through to the final qualifying event – the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in September – multiplied by two.
The nine players filling the automatic qualifying spots now are Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Danny Willett, Matt Fitzpatrick, BerndWiesberger and Victor Perez.
Harrington also has three wild cards but with Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey, Francesco Molinari, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Viktor Hovland looking in from the outside, there are a lot of noses pressed against the window.
“The team is in its infancy when you look at how weighted the points system is,” said Westwood, who is favourite to succeed Harrington as captain for Rome in 2023.
“I’m sure come the final event there will be a good balance to the European team as there always is.”
Open champion Shane Lowry, winner in Abu Dhabi in 2019, is hoping for a fast start to 2021 to gatecrash Harrington’s team.
“What they’ve done with the points is great for the likes of me, who is outside the team at the minute,” said Lowry.
“I get the chance to make up points. If I play as well as I know I can, there’s no doubt I can make that team.”