Westy hopes to lead from the front

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Lee Westwood returns to golf at the Ryder Cup on Friday “chest out, chin up” – and hoping to lead from the front.

Europe’s highest-ranked and most capped player, who in Scotland next week will have a chance to take the world number one spot off Tiger Woods, accepts he has a special role at the Ryder Cup.
Back from a seven-week injury lay-off just in time to play against the Americans for a seventh time, Westwood said on Thursday: “I think when push comes to shove if I get out there chest out, chin up I suppose I’ve got the most experience to try to show them how it’s done.
“I’m going to try to win that first hole and try to win a point that first morning – if I’m playing, of course. I don’t want to drop any hints.
“And I want to see 11 people stood there right behind me following me.”
Westwood, interestingly paired with Rory McIlroy when Europe switched to foursomes for their final practice session, insists his leg is not a problem now.
That does not mean, though, that he will play all five sessions because captain Colin Montgomerie may decide not to put him through 36 holes on Friday and Saturday on a course that is so physically demanding – even more so after all the rain.
“I get the odd twinge, but I think that’s age more than anything,” said the 37-year-old.
“Everybody gets twinges here and there. I get a twinge in my back every morning when I get up, but it doesn’t mean I have a bad back.
“The calf is not really an issue for me. It’s not something that’s in the back of my mind – I can’t hit this one flat out or anything like that.
“I’m going through the motions as I would if I were 100% fit, but I don’t think I’ve ever been that.”

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