Daily Record

STRAITS SHOOTER

Westwood insists he’s onboard with the new points system even though it could cost him his place on European team

- BY NEIL SQUIRES

LEE WESTWOOD supports Padraig Harrington’s shake-up of the Ryder Cup qualificat­ion system – even though it may cost him a fairytale recall.

Westwood, who will be 48 when the contest takes place at Whistling Straits in September, was amongst the automatic qualifiers when the process was frozen last March.

But from the European Tour’s restart tomorrow, when he will defend his title in Abu Dhabi, all points earned will count extra after a request from Europe’s captain.

Westwood said: “Padraig has taken the decision to change the points system. It’s more like a bonus system – the closer you get to the Ryder Cup the more points you play for.

“There are a few people who won a few points before it was halted last year but it makes sense that you have players there who are on form. You want your strongest and best team, a team on form, when you play the Americans.

“We’re playing for a lot of points these first few weeks but as the year goes on, they double. So you need to play consistent­ly well through the year.”

Points accrued from events up until May 9 will be multiplied by 1.5, with all points earned from the British Masters through to the final qualifying event, the PGA Championsh­ip at Wentworth in September, multiplied by two.

The nine players filling the automatic qualificat­ion spots at present are Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Danny Willett, Matt Fitzpatric­k, Bernd Wiesberger and France’s Victor Perez.

Harrington has three wildcards at his disposal but with Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey, Francesco Molinari, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter – as well as world No.14 Viktor Hovland – all looking in there are a lot of noses pressed against the window.

“The team is still in its infancy when you look at how weighted the points system is. I know I’m in the team at the moment,” said Westwood.

“I’m sure come the final event there will be a good balance to the European team as there always is.

“That’s what the captain’s picks are there for. Padraig will use his to fill criteria that the players haven’t already filled.”

Open champion Shane Lowry, the winner in Abu Dhabi in 2019, is another hoping for a fast start to 2021 in a bid to gatecrash Harrington’s team.

“What they’ve done with the points is great for the likes of me who is outside the team at the minute,” said Lowry. “Hopefully I make more than enough and have the best season of my life.”

I’m sure come the final event there’ll be a good balance to the team as there always is LEE WESTWOOD

 ??  ?? CUP FOR IT Lee Westwood joins Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy ahead of practice in Abu Dhabi, above, as Harrington, left, starts countdown
CUP FOR IT Lee Westwood joins Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy ahead of practice in Abu Dhabi, above, as Harrington, left, starts countdown

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