NEWS

Westwood sets sights on becoming Europe's Ryder Cup captain in future

By PA Sport
Published on
Westwood sets sights on becoming Europe's Ryder Cup captain in future

Lee Westwood is looking forward to working under his seventh different Ryder Cup captain in a few weeks, as he dreams of being handed the honor himself one day. Colin Montgomerie will be at the helm as Europe looks to wrest the trophy back from the USA in October at Celtic Manor, and Europe's top-ranked player is relishing the chance to see what the Scot brings to the role he hopes to fill in the future. "I'd love to be the captain one day. It's a massive honor and very few people get to do it," said Westwood. "I've played under lots of different captains, I think Monty will be the seventh. "I've got a lot of experience playing in the Ryder Cup and a lot of experience of different captains and the way they've all done it, and I should be able to look back and know what to do and what not to do,” he added. “Hopefully one day I'll get the chance to do that." The 37-year-old Englishman, who could become world No. 1 if he wins next week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, is however more focused on his own achievements in the game. "That (being captain) is quite a long way down the road. It's not really something I've thought too much about,” he stated. “It (becoming world No. 1) would be amazing. It's not really something I set out for at the start of the year, but now it's in reach it is something you focus on." Westwood believes Montgomerie, who has represented Europe eight times, will bring an abundance of passion to the job. "He has always worn his heart on his sleeve and he's been very passionate about the Ryder Cup and he's obviously played many of them, so he's got a wealth of experience,” he said. "He's always stirring the troops up and getting you going, so I think he'll make a great captain." Westwood believes the Scot has put together the perfect combination of assistant coaches, having recently added Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke to Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn. "I think all the assistant captains bring something. Darren has always been a big personality in the team, Thomas Bjorn has experience of being vice-captain to Bernhard Langer and Paul McGinley has won the Ryder Cup, too." Europe will be without Jose Maria Olazabal for this year's event due to his poor health, but Westwood expects the Spaniard to join the list of those privileged with the captaincy sooner rather than later. "I'd love to see him be the captain one day,” he said. “He's a very strong character and he's had his ups and down with his health but looking back he's always had a good partnership with Seve (Ballesteros) and I wouldn't be surprised if he's the captain sometime in the near future."