Lee Westwood backs Rory McIlroy call for Ryder Cup reform

Lee Westwood, who seems certain to be a future Ryder Cup captain, used his pre-Turkish Airlines Open press conference to add weight to a call from Rory McIlroy for a change in the rules regarding European eligibility for the biennial contest.
Lee Westwood has spoken out about Ryder Cup team selection. Picture: Richard Heathcote/Getty ImagesLee Westwood has spoken out about Ryder Cup team selection. Picture: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Lee Westwood has spoken out about Ryder Cup team selection. Picture: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Last month’s defeat at Hazeltine has prompted McIlroy to say he believes that selection shouldn’t be limited to players holding European Tour membership, which is a definite reference to the fact that Darren Clarke was unable to pick Paul Casey, the world No 12, due to the fact he gave up a card for his home circuit to concentrate on the PGA Tour.

Speaking in the same conference room that hosted the G20 Summit at the Regnum Carya resort in Belek 12 months ago, Westwood said: “I think at the end of the day you want the best possible European players teeing it up in the Ryder Cup. I can see the reason why they want you to be a European Tour member, but I think it’s unfortunate when you have clearly world class/Ryder Cup experienced players missing out because they have chosen to, for one reason or another, live in America or play golf solely in America.

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“I can always sympathise with them because I don’t see why that personal decision should affect whether you can play in the Ryder Cup or not. At the end of the day, you’re still European and you still have the passion to play for Europe and represent them. If you prove that you’re world class on, say, the PGA Tour and not the European Tour, why should that have any bearing on whether you can play or not?”

To maintain European Tour membership, players are only required to play in a minimum of five events, not including the majors and WGCs. Russell Knox played in the Nedbank Challenge, HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship, BMW PGA, Irish Open and Scottish Open to make himself eligible for the Ryder Cup, but Casey decided to focus completely on the PGA Tour. “It should be the best 12 players from Europe versus the best 12 players from the US,” McIlroy told the No 
Laying Up podcast. “For me, there shouldn’t be anything to do with membership of tours. To have a guy like Paul Casey not on our team when he is playing some of the best golf in the world right now, it 
definitely hurt us.”