Clarke will have tough job as Yanks are really hurting – Westwood
LEE WESTWOOD believes his old Ryder Cup playing partner Darren Clarke will have a harder task than any captain before him in trying to maintain Europe’s stunning run of success in Minneapolis next year.
The Englishman, who has played in every Ryder Cup since 1997, was naturally delighted when his great friend got the nod last week but sounded a note of caution regarding Clarke’s chances of steering Europe to what would be an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory.
‘I think the next Ryder Cup will be the hardest one to win because the Americans are really hurting after what happened at Gleneagles last year,’ said Westwood, who lives close to many of the US team in Palm Beach, Florida. ‘They didn’t come out of that one looking very good at all. So I think Darren has got a heck of a tough job on his hands. Having said that, he’s well capable of pulling it off.
‘I can’t remember a time when I didn’t think he would be a captain. He just ticks all the boxes. He’s done the vice-captaincy under Colin Montgomerie, he’s been involved in five Ryder Cups, he’s still in touch with all the players and they all respect his game.’
No golfer knows Clarke quite like Westwood. They made their Ryder Cup debuts together at Valderrama 18 years ago. In 1999, they played together for the first time, and so began the most successful partnership after Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal European golf has ever known. There were smiles when they saw off Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson at Oakland Hills in 2004 and tears in victory when they won two out of two at the K Club two years later.
Clarke was competing just a month after losing his first wife Heather to breast cancer and was determined to put on a show in her memory. ‘That was as brave a performance as I have ever seen on a golf course,’ said Westwood. ‘How he even got the club back on the first tee, let alone smack his drive right down the middle, I’ll never know. That showed his character, but there were plenty of other times over the years when I thought he showed himself to be perfect captaincy material.
‘I remember when we played Tiger and Phil and all the hype surrounding that partnership. But Darren was very calm and struck the right note when he said we had nothing to lose, that we had to make sure we enjoyed it and make the most of our opportunity.’
Westwood is acutely aware he could do with avoiding the situation he found himself in last year, when he needed a wild card to make the team.
‘I wouldn’t want to put Darren in the situation where I am not in the team automatically,’ he said. ‘Because of our relationship, it might be awkward. I can assure you, though, he wouldn’t pick me just because we’re mates and I would only want to be there if I warranted it. The best thing would be to qualify automatically, though, and then nobody can say anything. And I can do that. I honestly think I will play some great golf over the next two years.’
If the 41-year-old did make a 10th consecutive appearance, what would it be like playing under the man who stood by his side so often? ‘Positively weird,’ said Westwood, with a huge grin on his face. ‘I’ll just have to watch what I say, won’t I? I don’t think I could get away with telling him where to go any more.’