Reputations count for nothing as big three fight for Ryder Cup spot

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Twin targets: Lee Westwood has Ryder Cup points to play for at Valhalla

Kevin Garside

6 August 2014

It’s a big week for Lee Westwood, Luke Donald and Ian Poulter, central pillars of Europe’s recent Ryder Cup successes who are all outside the qualifying positions going into the US PGA Championship.

Matters are critical for Westwood, who needs to show serious form to persuade Paul McGinley to risk him as one of three captain’s picks. His final-round 63 at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was necessary but not sufficient to effect a mood swing around the selection policy after missing four consecutive cuts before Akron.

McGinley acknowledged Westwood’s contribution to the competition but warned he must do more to convince. “You look at the one pillar that has been consistent throughout the Ryder Cup success we have had since the 90s it has been Lee Westwood but you want to see Lee in form,” said McGinley.

“He is not going to get in on his reputation alone. He needs some form, he knows that and it’s good to see him playing well.”

Donald is in better shape, needing to finish ahead of Jamie Donaldson at Valhalla to edge the Welshman out of ninth place in the fight for the Ryder Cup team. The difficulty will be holding on to the final qualifying spot if the disappointing form of summer continues until the last scoring tournament, the Italian Open, at the end of the month.

Though 15 points adrift of Donaldson and behind both Donald and Stephen Gallacher, also in action here, Poulter’s Ryder Cup record is thought to have enough residual value to claim one of McGinley’s picks.

Asked if he would trade a Major for his Ryder Cup success Poulter came back with an emphatic “no”.

“I would not change a single thing,” he said. “I’m proud of my success at the Ryder Cup. Of course, I would love to win a Major. I’ve come close a couple of times. The Ryder Cup is special too. If I don’t win that Major it would be very disappointing. But I cherish my achievements representing Europe.”

Westwood’s final round in Akron at least left him in better mood as he tucked into a late lunch yesterday after nine holes of practice. As if to project a sense of insouciance he was more interested in discussing the controversial transfer policy of his beloved Nottingham Forest than his prospects of making McGinley’s team.

While he protested against the sale to Newcastle of goalkeeper Karl Darlow his caddie Billy Foster claimed his patron is not far away.

“We are talking fine margins,” said Foster. “He started well on Sunday and that made a difference. The putts started to drop and he gained momentum from there.

“He’s not been far off all summer, just waiting for something to click. It did on Sunday, let’s hope he can build on that.”

At the other end of the European food chain Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia are in rude health and looking to ambush favourite Rory McIlroy around Valhalla. Rose played a practice round with Poulter yesterday, reprising the Ryder Cup pairing favoured by previous captains.

With two wins in his last four tournaments and a tie for fourth at the WGC-Bridgestone on Sunday, Rose is a serious threat.

So, too, Garcia who has finished runner-up three times in his last three events, twice to McIlroy.

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