WILLETT’S ADVICE IS TO ‘BE SELFISH’

Europe’s 2020 Ryder Cup team will comprise the top four from the European Points List, the leading five from the World Points List and three wild cards. The US side will be made up of the top eight in their points system and four captain’s picks. The biennial event will be held at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin from September 25-27. Padraig Harrington will captain holders Europe, while Steve Stricker leads the Americans.

The course has not been a happy hunting ground for Americans in Majors. It has hosted three PGA Championships. Fiji’s Vijay Singh was the 2004 winner after defeating Justin Leonard and Chris DiMarco in a playoff. Germany’s Martin Kaymer beat Bubba Watson in another playoff in 2010, while Australian Jason Day triumphed by three shots over Jordan Spieth in 2015. There are two layouts at Whistling. The main one is the Straits Course, which sits on the banks of Lake Michigan and looks a lot like a British or Irish links, with deep bunkers, dunes and not many trees. Eight of the 18 holes border the lake. In what might be a lucky omen for Harrington, and Open champion Shane Lowry, the other layout is the Irish Course. DANNY WILLETT has urged Shane Lowry to “be selfish” and avoid the same mistakes he made after winning a Major.

Willett, below, landed the 2016 Masters title before sliding to 462nd in the world last year, suffering from injuries and the fallout from brother Pete’s anti-American rant at the Ryder Cup.

Asked to offer advice to Open champion Lowry, the Yorkshireman said: “Take some time off. Spend it with your family and friends, enjoy what you’ve accomplished. “I made a few bad decisions to play too much golf when I didn’t really fancy it.

“If I could go back and do it again, I would do it differently. I’d not go travelling the world, I’d stay at home. It’s easy to get pulled in different directions. “He needs to be a little bit selfish and do what’s right for him. Try not to get sent around the world to play golf.”