Lee wants tour break

LEE Westwood thinks 29 years of loyalty to the European – now DP World – Tour should count for something when he asks to play for the record $25 million purse at Centurian St Albans next month.

The veteran is playing the Betfred British Masters – a tournament he has twice hosted – at the

Belfry this week. But he finally confirmed he has requested releases from both main tours for the LIV golf event at Centurion in June “like many others have”.

He is waiting now to see if this will be granted and whether he can tee up in the Saudi-financed tournament, promoted by Greg Norman, despite the potential of bans from the established tours.

“It’s not the first release I’ve asked for,” he said.

“I’ve not heard anything back yet.

“The ball is in the European Tour’s court and the PGA Tour’s court. We are just following the rules laid out and the protocols.”

The PGA Tour’s deadline for release requests passed last week, the DP World Tour’s is next week, May 10. The decisions will follow, but Westwood thinks he has long proved his loyalty to his home tour.

“I’ve supported the European Tour for 29 years,” he said. “I’ve gone over and won on the PGA Tour in 98, but not taken my card.

“I have never been sort of driven by playing on the PGA Tour like a lot of the guys have. It’s been a goal (for many) to get on to the PGA Tour. It never has for me.”

Westwood dismissed the question of the Saudis’ human rights record as one of “politics”, pointing out that the tour had sanctioned events in Saudi Arabia before. But he conceded the vast prize money available was his priority motive.

“If I said to some of my mates I grew up playing with in Worksop that I’ve been given an opportunity to play in a tournament, a 48-man tournament for $25 million, they would probably pull me to one side and say, ‘what is it you’re actually thinking about?’.

“This is my job. I do this for money. It’s not the only reason for doing it. But if anybody comes along and gives any of us a chance at a pay rise, then you have to seriously consider it, don’t you?

“People always have a problem with change. They are sceptical about it. People like continuity.”