PADRAIG’S RYDER CUP HEADACHE
Westwood at risk of missing out
LEE WESTWOOD slammed the Ryder Cup qualifying rules as his place came under big pressure from BerndWiesberger and Shane Lowry.
And captain Padraig Harrington will have a wild-card dilemma over Ian Poulter tomorrow after the Postman failed to deliver and missed the cut at the BMW PGA.
Fellow veteran Westwood had seemed destined to make an 11th Europe appearance at Whistling Straits after his two runners-up finishes on the PGA Tour in March.
But the 48-year-old entered the final qualifying event in the eighth of nine automatic places – and vulnerable to being overtaken with double points on offer at Wentworth.
Austrian Wiesberger yesterday climbed into the provisional team with a 67 after nailing five birdies on the back nine.
He needs only to finish in the top 50 at Wentworth to make his Ryder Cup debut.
Lowry has slipped out of the automatic places despite his 66 but he could knock out Westwood this weekend with a top-eight finish.
And the Worksop veteran says that the points system is too unpredictable only a fortnight before the Ryder
Cup starts inWisconsin.
Westwood, who shot a second 70, said: “This tournament is heavily loaded compared to everything else we’ve done, and that is something to maybe look at in the future. “Some of the guys turning up here don’t need this week right now, knowing what the Ryder Cup is like. It is going to be draining for a few, and you want to be going into the Ryder Cup fresh.”
Poulter needed an eagle at the par-five 18th to make the cut in the rain. But his face looked like thunder as his second splashed into the water guarding the green before he chipped in for birdie to miss by one.
Fellow wild-card candidate Justin Rose could seal his place by winning after his 68 left him three shots off the halfway lead in tied fourth. Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat is still out in front on 12-under par after his 68. And former Avon county tennis player Laurie Canter is a shot back after getting up at 4am to watch Emma Raducanu reach the US Open final. Canter, who shot a 66, said: “It was really awesome to watch her.”