LEE LAMENTS FREE FOR ALL
LEE WESTWOOD has hit out at the draining Wentworth scramble for Ryder Cup spots.
The Englishman fears it is going to sap vital energy from European troops before they even get to Whistling Straits.
With less than two weeks to go before the clash with the United States, only five are locked into Padraig Harrington’s line-up.
Westwood is amongst those at the BMW PGA fighting to secure their spot with additional qualifying points on offer.
Four more names will be cemented by close of play before Harrington then completes the side with three wildcard picks.
However, balls are still juggling high in the air and Westwood has questioned that situation at this late stage. He said: “There’s so many variables with the way we’ve set qualification this time around.
“This tournament is heavily loaded compared to everything else we’ve done and I think it’s something to maybe look at in the future.
“Some of the guys here don’t need this week, right now. Knowing what the Ryder Cup is like, they don’t need this two weeks before The Ryder Cup.
“It is going to be draining for a few and you want to be going into the Ryder Cup fresh.
“You can see how players are reacting to it.
“You know there’s people right in there shooting scores where clearly they have got other things on their mind.”
Westwood and Shane Lowry could be displaced in the qualifying race by Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, who can overtake Rory McIlroy in the European points list with a top-50 finish having reached the halfway stage at six under par.
That would mean McIlroy qualified via the world points system instead of Lowry, who could then knock Westwood out in a complex system.
Whoever misses out could join the likes of Ian Poulter, who missed the Wentworth cut, Sergio Garcia and title-chasing Justin Rose in hoping for a captain’s pick.
Lowry agreed with Westwood and said: “There’s almost too many points available, especially for someone like me who is in the team.
“Look, it is what it is. We’ve known it for the last couple of years. I know there’s a few permutations and it’s up to Paddy what he wants to do.
“Hopefully, I don’t need that pick and, first and foremost, I can do the business and go and win the tournament.”
One player who won’t make the Ryder Cup team is Belgian Thomas Detry who was disqualified for signing for an incorrect scorecard yesterday.