Westwood: Love must not see Watson as a team player

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September 14, 2016

Lee Westwood thinks Bubba Watson was omitted from the US Ryder Cup team because Davis Love doesn't see him as a team player.

Watson was not chosen as one of captain Love's first three wildcard picks, instead choosing Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar and J.B Holmes for Hazeltine.

Watson, who has appeared in three previous Ryder Cups and is a two-time Masters champion, still has an outside chance of appearing in Minnesota when the fourth pick is decided in ten days time.

"You hear Davis talk about chemistry and how players are going to be in a team setting, so when he leaves out someone ranked so highly it does seem like it's because the captain can't see where he fits in, with regard to pairings and stuff like that," said Westwood.

Westwood is finishing his preparation for the Ryder Cup at the Italian Open and the veteran is in a confident mood following his final round 63 at the European Masters only ten days ago.

"I went into that event a little rusty having not played the week before but by the weekend I was playing really solid golf," he said.

"On Sunday it could quite easily have been a 60, but if you want to win you can't afford to start slowly as I did and be eight behind after the first round."

Westwood is putting in some hard practice ahead of golf's showpiece event and following his lowest round in four years in Switzerland, he is feeling good.

"After what happened in Switzerland I just feel I'm playing well enough to win golf tournaments again, so that's why I got here on Monday to give myself the best possible chance," said the 43-year-old.

"I'm not here to warm up for the Ryder Cup but, having said that, winning would be the perfect preparation."

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